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SIFA Calls for Firearms Policy Precision

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The Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia took the decision to support the Flick’Em movement after the major parties proved they cannot keep their word when it comes to quality firearms policy.

SIFA has sought to work with Labor and Liberal Nationals across Australia to develop firearms policy that upholds community standards of safety, security and sovereignty.

The organisation has made clear its position that Licensed Shooters are among our nation’s most trustworthy individuals; it has participated in many discussions about firearms policy; it has always acted in good faith, backed by its reputation as the peak body for one of Australia’s oldest and most respected industries.

Since 2014, however, genuine political leadership on firearms policy has been sorely lacking, with both sides supporting the expenditure of valuable voter resources on measures that will have no effect.

Time and again, SIFA has demonstrated the facts about Australian firearms ownership and use, and time and again, the major political parties have hidden behind Howard’s Laws.

In 2017, Howard’s Laws are critically flawed. Urgent attention to quality firearms policy is required to protect our communities from criminals who would undermine Australian safety, security and sovereignty.

In the last eight weeks, Labor, Liberal and National parties have demonstrated their lack of genuine leadership on firearms policy, their lack of appetite to address real issues around illegal importation and illegal local manufacture of firearms, and their misrepresentation of community attitudes to Licensed Shooters in Australia.

In Queensland, the Minister for Small Business created a petition against a small business in her own electorate which called for the banning of all firearms in her community.

In New South Wales, the National Party cynically leveraged the Las Vegas atrocity to protect its seats at the Murray and Cootamundra by-elections.

Labor and the Liberal National Party voted together in Queensland’s single House of Parliament to put an end to sensible firearms classification.

Further, a federal government commitment to review the 20 year old National Firearms Agreement was withdrawn and the opportunity lost to bring Australia’s firearms laws up to speed with the challenges of our 21st century.

Does SIFA seek to water down Howard’s Laws? No.

SIFA seeks the 21st Century Firearms Policy improvement our communities deserve:

  1. Firearms Policy Informed by Facts and Evidence
  2. Digital, Real Time License and Permitting Checks
  3. Digital, Real Time Reporting Between Jurisdictions
  4. Properly Resourced and Funded Importation Screening
  5. Properly Resourced and Funded Focus on Criminality

Independent research shows the major parties are out of step with Australian voters on attitudes to licensed firearms ownership and use:

  • 79% of Australians want a reduction in illegal guns via enforcement that targets criminals
  • 12% of Australians will change their vote to the party with a 21st Century Firearms Policy
  • 70% of Australians with NO gun affinity want firearms policy improved by consultation with industry experts
  • 86% of Australian non-gun owners think Licensed Shooters have a right to policy consultation.

The Flick’Em movement attracted the support of SIFA because of its call to send the major parties a message around issues that affect every day people: energy prices, cost of living pressures and a lack of genuine leadership.

The 2017 Queensland Election 2017 attracted the lowest major party primary vote in history.

We congratulate the voters of Queensland who not only sent the major parties a message, but experienced at a grassroots level what it means to stand up for yourself.

SIFA looks forward to working again in good faith with legislators to develop firearms policy that upholds Australian community standards of safety, security and sovereignty.

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