Minister must confirm gun law review is to strengthen laws

… Rule Out Watering Down of Current Laws

The Tasmanian Greens today pursued gun law reform, by calling on the Minister, David O’Byrne, to commit to ensuring the review of the Firearms Act 1996 will strengthen the law and will not weaken current provisions.

Greens Police and Emergency Services spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said that given the current make-up of the Minister’s Consultative Committee is dominated by those representing shooters’ interests there is growing community concern that there is a push on to wind back many of the provisions considered important following the Port Arthur tragedy.

“Gun law reform is one of the most significant and important public health policies. The current Firearm Act review provides a real opportunity to ensure our public policy settings are the best in place to protect the community,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“This is the opportunity for the Minister to seriously examine closing the current loophole and ban semi-automatic hand-guns, for which there is no reasonable use by members of the public.”

“Improved mandated fixed-spot steel storage containers is also a necessary upgrade on current practices, especially in light of the rate of gun threats we are witnessing across the state.”

“The Greens are also calling on the Minister to rule out any proposal to reduce the mandated ‘cooling off’ period for the purchase of second or subsequent weapons, or to reduce the age of young people shooting in the field, which is currently set at 16 years of age.”
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Police and Emergency Services spokesperson