The Greens condemn the Liberals’ shocking announcement they will be overriding police advice and winding back gun laws.
The Police Commissioner was clear, antique firearms ammunition hasn’t been available, but technological advancement means it now is. The police also rightly said, “a firearm can be used to intimidate or threaten, regardless of whether it can be fired. That’s why replica firearms are not legal”.
Police are just requiring antique firearms owners to get a licence and go through a fit and proper persons test, like every other gun owner.
Felix Ellis’ announcement he will be steamrolling the Police Commissioner on firearms is disturbing and repugnant.
This is pure politics ahead of community safety. Jeremy Rockliff must intervene immediately.
Why should people with violent or criminal backgrounds be allowed to own firearms that are capable of being fired without any licence or background check?
Once again, the Liberals have buckled to the gun lobby at election time. In 2018 they secretly promised to breach core parts of the National Firearms Agreement, including lowering the age of firearms’ licences to 16 years.
After exposing their secret election promise in 2018, the Greens successfully pushed for a Firearms Inquiry. It was flooded with submissions, and concluded that Tasmanians – quite rightly – want strong gun laws to keep our community safe.
The police are on the frontline when it comes to illegal firearms. They are the ones fighting criminal gangs, and standing up against people using firearms to threaten and harm.
We should listen to the police when they say we need tighter gun ownership laws. For the Liberals to undermine this in an election period is irresponsible, and will put lives at risk.
