Australia Gun Lobby Winning Firearm Control Despite Surge
Here’s a summary of the key points from the provided text:
Shooters’ Political Engagement: Representatives from shooting groups, including WA Labor MP Zak Repacholi and National Shooting Federation CEO simon McKenzie, are actively working to influence the political process, especially ahead of the WA state election. This includes mobilizing supporters, advising on political engagement strategies (including lobbying), and aiming to get “the right people” in parliament.
Repacholi’s Position: Repacholi supports responsible firearm ownership for legitimate purposes (sport,farming) and a national firearm registry developed with industry consultation. He believes stronger checks and balances are needed if the number of firearms increases.
Concerns about Increasing Gun Numbers: Tim Quinn of Gun Control Australia expresses concern about the ease of obtaining firearms in australia and the rapidly increasing number of guns in the country. He advocates for fixing ”loose processes” in the current laws.
Gun Lobby Strength & New Alliance: Quinn is worried about the growing power of the gun lobby and a newly formed alliance.
* WA Legislation & National Adoption: Stephen Bendle of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance believes recent WA legislation (presumably stricter gun laws) has alarmed the gun lobby,but supports the reforms and their potential national adoption,emphasizing public safety as the primary condition for firearm ownership.
In essence, the article highlights a growing political effort by gun rights advocates alongside concerns about increasing gun ownership and the need for continued vigilance in maintaining gun control measures in Australia.