Queensland police appear to have increased their obstruction of shooters applying for permits to acquire firearms, but at the same time seem to have told the Police Minister that they are doing nothing different from past practices.
Weapons Licensing Group has in the past few months begun demanding detailed information from applicants about their intended use of firearms, such as the name of the owner of the property they intend to use it on, population specifics of the feral animals on the property, type of competition the firearm will be used in and so on.
Anecdotal information indicates the questions were initially aimed at people applying to acquire large-calibre firearms but now people say police are applying them to smaller rifles as well as shotguns.
It is the first time such questions have been asked in the almost 30 years since the PTA system was introduced, according to Shooters Union president Graham Park.
He said that since the issue was made public, dozens more Shooters Union members have come forward with complaints about it.
Shooters Union has already contacted the Police Minister, Daniel Purdie, asking that the practice be stopped, and Mr Park said it appears the Minister had asked Weapons Licensing Group (WLG) about it, only to be told that nothing had changed.
“We’ve had some very productive meetings with Mr Purdie and he has told us very clearly there have been no changes to the legislation and none are planned,” Mr Park said.
“However, it is clear that WLB have changed their behaviour and/or policies.”
Weighing up the responses from Mr Purdie and from WLG, Mr Park said the situation suggested WLG was either misleading the Minister’s office or obfuscating the situation when questioned about it.
“Someone at Weapons Licensing Branch clearly thinks they’re being clever and is angling for a promotion or reassignment to a more prestigious role when coming up with this stuff,” Mr Park said.
“It’s not acceptable and shooters are sick of being used as a chew toy for political points or other agendas.
“The law might not have changed, but WLG’s behaviour certainly has, and it needs to stop.”
Meanwhile, SSAA Queensland president Helen Gill said in a bulletin to the organisation’s members that the apparent change of police approach was a non-issue.
“While other wannabe shooting organisations, often little more than grumpy Facebook sites, spread rumours, such as the now disproven large firearm calibre ban, we will focus on the real issues,” she said.
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