Recently in South Australia, the SSAA was faced with several media articles about handgun-related crime and the 1996 fireams gun buyback. SSAA National and SSAA South Australia contacted the media regarding this matter and have clarified several issues and misconceptions.
However, SSAA National would like to take the opportunity to forward some of the facts surrounding topics, which have been raised by Australia’s media to draw negative attention to private firearm ownership:
- Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus has stated that $15 billion is earned per year through organised crime in Australia, half of which is drug related. Gun-related crime primarily results from other crime activities surrounding gangs and drugs.
- The Australian Institute of Criminology indicates that almost all crimes involving a gun are performed by an unlicensed person with an unregistered gun.
- Of the estimated 760,000 licensed firearms owners in Australia, about 700 report firearm robberies each year. This is a miniscule percentage (0.09%) of firearms that potentially enter the illegal market in this manner. This includes thefts from security guards, but not from the police or Defence Force personnel.
- Contrary to popular belief, the 1996 gun buyback has not had an impact on reducing gun crime or mass shootings. Amnesties target law-abiding firearm owners who have their firearms stored and registered as required. Criminals by their nature do not hand in firearms to amnesties.
- Between 1996 and today, there have been no large-scale mass shootings in Australia and this is sometimes stated as evidence of the success of the gun buyback. However, New Zealand has never had a buyback and semi-automatic firearms are still legal and for the same period, New Zealand has not experienced a mass shooting.
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Contrary to the throwaway line from gun prohibitionists that ‘firearms are easy to legally obtain’, all Australian states require training and criminal licensing checks. National laws also dictate a six-month probationary period and it can take up to nine months to even own a small-calibre firearm such as a .22 handgun, which can only be used at a handgun club with minimum attendances required.
Comments
SSAA National counters claims by anti-gunners
SSAA National recently issued a country-wide press release countering outrageous claims by anti-gun groups, following a spate of criminal activity, predominantly in New South Wales.
Philip Alpers and the National Coalition for Gun Control incorrectly claimed that the majority of firearms used by criminals originate from private licensed citizens. If they are serious about saving lives target motor vehicles but they won't, because they use them, or own them, dont they?
These claims are not supported by SSAA National or independent research bodies, such as the Australian Institute of Criminology.