Firearms owners are up in arms after locaion maps supplied to the media appear accurate. Owners believe the maps provided will be a shopping list for criminals.
The alarm bells were raised after a farmer confirmed that he lived on the outskirts of the map, and it appeared to be accurate.
Paul Papalia, the WA Police Minister, showed his cards when he said, “You’ve got to think, that with (almost) 350,000 firearms in the community, some of them, many of them probably are lying around just waiting to be stolen by criminals.”
This comment is alarming, considering there is no statistic to support this statement. If anything, the released map could now increase targeted break-ins.
ABC News interviewedSporting Shooters Association presidentPaul Fitzgerald who expressed outrageat the government’s plans, saying they were unfairly aimedat recreational and conservation shooters.
Mr Fitzgerald said the government had “blindsided” responsible gun owners and put their safety at risk by revealing where registered gun owners live, via a map published in the media.
“Recreational shooters are sportspeople and conservationists who are passionate about firearm safety and the responsibility that comes with owning a licensed firearm, and we are avid campaigners against gun violence,” he said.
Mr Fitzgerald said there was no evidence that linked licensed gun owners,or the numberof firearms held by an individual, with an increase in crime.
“SSAA WA’s number one priority is to educate and promote the safe use of firearms for people participating in recreational shooting and hunting, whilst ensuring all safeguards are in place to protect the wider community,” he said.
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