Stephen Bendle
There are over four million legal firearms registered in Australia – more than before the Port Arthur massacre of 1996 – and up to half a million illicit ones circulating in the community.
Police services are worried about an increasing number of illegal, 3D printed guns, and the slow pace of state/territory governments to act on possessing the digital files and equipment needed to make them.
Children as young as 10 can get a firearms permit and use a gun under supervision, and no state or territory has yet honoured its promises to be fully compliant with the National Firearms Agreement, be it the 1996 or 2017 versions.
These findings are from a snapshot of firearms data and policies which was released last month by the Australia Institute, which also found 70 percent of respondents wanted stricter gun controls.
The Australia Institute report establishes an additional framework that the community can use to look at broad firearm safety measures, and compare jurisdictions on key elements such as:
- data quality and transparency
- consultation processes
- firearm ownership limits
- regulation of minors using firearms
- strong regulation of 3D printed firearms
- regulation of unlicensed shooting
Based on these measures, every state or territory needs to strengthen their firearm safety legislation and regulations.
The report shows that only one jurisdiction, NSW, publishes regular and reliable data about firearms. Another refuses to publish any data at all. Only one jurisdiction limits the number of firearms an individual can own, unless they are a licensed collector or business. Data in NSW shows that individuals have caches of over 300 registered firearms, seemingly for recreation purposes.
About one third of registered firearms in NSW are stored in metropolitan cities and suburbs, and another third are in inner regional towns. The data demonstrates that firearms are not the sole domain of farmers.
Every jurisdiction circumvents the National Firearms Agreement and allows children, some as young as 10, to legally have a firearms permit or be able to legally use a firearm under the supervision of a licensed firearm owner.
Victoria and New South Wales have well governed Firearm Consultation Committees. Victoria’s is chaired by the Asst Minister for Police. The NSW one is chaired by the responsible senior police member. Western Australia has consulted closely during their recent reform process. Another jurisdiction has an ad hoc consultation process that are called with 24 hours’ notice, no agenda, and no record of membership.
One jurisdiction has a Ministerial Firearms Consultation Committee which only allows people representing firearm users. That’s like a Ministerial Tobacco Consultation Committee comprising only tobacco industry members.
In every state, any person can go to a shooting range, self-declare on a form that they are a fit and proper person, and start shooting. Police may not be aware of participation by known criminals unless something goes wrong.
Australian police forces have joined together under Operation Athena to battle the proliferation of privately made firearms. These are assembled from legal materials using digital designs for 3D printers. The operation aims to disrupt the process of procurement, manufacture and distribution.
A key element is preventing the possession and distribution of 3D digital design files that are critical to making the weapon. Only Tasmania and New South Wales prohibit the possession of these files, while South Australia has draft legislation.
The Australian Gun Safety Alliance has written to every other jurisdiction seeking their immediate support to update their legislation accordingly.
Alongside the report, the Australia Institute published a nationally representative survey of 1,010 Australians about views on gun laws. Its findings include:
- Seven in ten Australians (70%) think gun laws should make it harder to access a gun, including a majority of voters for all political parties and candidates.
- Most Australians (64%) think Australia’s gun laws should be strengthened, including most Australians (65%) living in regional areas.
- Only one in four Australians (25%) think Australia’s gun laws should be kept the same, and only one in 16 (6%) think they should be wound back.
All these issues, discussed at length in the report, point to a common issue in public health: a large industry with significant resources and influence wields its strength to gain advantage and market growth.
Even if shooters are undertaking a legal activity and following the law, as most do, the needs of the broader community must be considered when designing and implementing firearm policy.
Ninety-five percent of the community do not participate in shooting activities. Their voices must be heard.
Stephen Bendle is Convenor of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, of which the PHAA is a member.
Image: Shutterstock
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