A formal petition opposing WA’s ridiculous gun laws has received more than 21,000 signatures within a few days of it being posted on the WA State Government’s website.
We’ve written extensively on the appalling laws being introduced to WA in the form of Firearms Bill 2024, and the Government’s refusal to genuinely listen to anyone from the firearms industry who understands the issues — as well as the insulting prices being offered as part of a “voluntary” buyback.
To no one’s surprise, given the ultra-majority the ALP enjoys in both houses of WA’s parliament, the Firearms Bill 2024 is expected to pass through parliament in more or less its current form, despite being referred to the Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and Statutes Review on March 21.
The petition, started by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party member Rick Mazza and sponsored by Liberal Party upper house South Metropolitan MP Nick Goiran, states its signatories:
1. Support law-abiding owners of firearms in Western Australia;
2. Call on the Government to prioritise its taxpayer funded resources towards those who possess and use unlicensed firearms;
3. Have significant concerns about multiple provisions in the Firearms Bill 2024;
4. Are dismayed that after all the talk and promises of consultation, the Bill is currently with a parliamentary committee whose restricted terms of reference prohibit it from conducting a full public inquiry;
5. Urge the Legislative Council to refer the Bill to the Standing Committee on Legislation for a full public inquiry into the policy of the Bill to assess its impact on the rights and liberties of law-abiding Western Australians and its efficacy at tackling those with a history of showing disregard for the laws of our State.
The petition is likely to be the most-signed petition to the Legislative Council in WA’s history as a State.
Given there are 90,000 licensed gun owners in WA, the fact 21,000 people (at time of publishing) had put their names to the petition is incredibly significant.
Shooters Union WA State Advocate Steve Harrison said he was glad to see such a strong response to the petition, and hoped the Cook Government might actually take notice of what WA’s citizens clearly wanted.
“21,000 signatures in a few days is an amazing outcome and it’s incredibly reassuring to see so many shooters speaking up,” he said.
“Gun owners, especially in WA, can be an apathetic and cynical bunch, so it is good so many people are getting active about this.
“While the ALP government here has made its views on law-abiding firearms owners extremely clear, ignoring more than 21,000 people would send a very strong and negative message to every resident in WA, with some serious ramifications for democracy in our state.”
WA residents can sign the petition here. Shooters are being urged to share the link with others in WA.
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