As a Royal Commission finds there were no problems with pre-existing gun laws, SSAA has urged authorities to focus on antisemitism, not guns, and Shooters Union has revealed it has engaged a Senior Counsel for future hearings.
Despite the finding that security and intelligence agencies were not hindered by “legislative framework” prior to the Bondi terror attack on 15 December last year, the Royal Commission’s interim report has recommended governments pursue a new National Firearms Agreement and support a nationwide gun ‘buyback’ scheme, despite the regulatory burdens this will impose of law-abiding shooters.
“This is not a surprise to us,” Shooters Union said in a statement to members, adding that as the interim report was made public, its president Graham Park was hosting a meeting to “formulate a plan which can be used going forward to represent the interests of all firearm owners and help the Commission come to a positive outcome”.
“When the Royal Commission was announced, we immediately engaged a high-level barrister, and within the last month we’ve also engaged a highly experienced, prominent Senior Counsel to represent gun owner’s interests in relation to the Royal Commission hearings and inquiries,” SU stated.
SSAA CEO Tom Kenyon noted that the interim report did not contain a specific recommendation to limit firearm ownership.
“This is an extremely sensitive and important day for all of those impacted by the terrorist attack in Bondi last year, and it’s critical that we focus on what will limit antisemitism now, and into the future,” he said.
“The SSAA has long held concerns that focusing on firearms distracts from examination of much more urgent matters such as what leads to someone committing such abhorrent violent acts, and how information is shared about high-risk individuals.”
He drew attention to the fact that NSW Police had granted one of the terrorists a firearms licence as a ‘fit and proper person’, despite terrorist links, allowing him to purchase the weapons used in the attack.
The interim report contains recommendations about improving policing and intelligence systems to prevent the wrong people being allowed to legally obtain firearms.
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