Yesterday was the 18th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre.
It’s been 18 years since a lone gunman, 28-year-old Martin Bryant, shot and killed 35 people and injured 20 others.
It’s been 18 years but there are still individuals and families suffering the consequences of gun crimes committed since.
Michelle Fernando is just one of those people suffering. In 2010, her sister – who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and paranoid psychosis – joined the Sydney Pistol Club. She was able to register as a member without undergoing a mental health check and was then trained to use a dangerous weapon.
When she left the club one afternoon in August, she was carrying an automatic handgun and 30 rounds of ammunition in her handbag. She then used that gun to shoot her father.
She fired five shots at Vincent Lalin Fernado – and tore apart that family.
So how was this allowed to happen? Didn’t we ban guns in Australia after Port Arthur?
Back in 1996, the response to Port Arthur tragedy was unprecedented, with the public and politicians rallying to change the gun laws in our country. Every State and Territory committed to the ‘Port Arthur Agreement on Firearms’, which implemented nationwide registration and laws regarding the ownership of specific type of firearms.
But, over time, new laws and legislation have softened commitment to the Port Author Agreement, particularly in NSW.
A new petition on GunControlAustralia.org is calling for the new Premier of NSW, Mike Baird, to commit to strengthening gun control laws in the state so that they are in line with the Port Arthur Agreement and pledge to doing no deals with the Shooters Party.
So what are the changes we’ve seen to gun laws in the last decade? The petition outlines them as:
In the last decade, New South Wales has breached the ‘Port Arthur Agreement’ in a number of ways. These include: ‘try before you buy’ legislation, which allows a person unlicensed and without police checks to shoot a semi-automatic handgun (also known as s.6B); removing the 28-day police check for obtaining a firearm; allowing minors to possess a firearm; allowing license holders to obtain additional firearms without requiring them to show good reasons why; removing the requirement to revoke a licence if someone is on a good behaviour bond; allowing recreational shooting in National Parks.
That’s how Michelle Fernando’s sister was able to walk out of a shooting club with a gun. Because a Shooters Party amendment to the NSW Firearms Act states that people (aged as young as 12) are allowed to go into a gun club and shoot without a licence.
Individuals who register with gun clubs don’t even need to have a police or medical check (or mental health assessment) before they are granted easy access to guns.
Not everyone thinks there’s a problem with the current state of gun laws in NSW. The Shooters and Fishers Party upper house MP Robert Brown told Fairfax: “’These people [members of Gun Control Australia] are disgraceful… They dance on the graves of murder victims.” He thinks that the current campaign exploits the Port Arthur tragedy.
Even putting aside the specific legislation under discussion, some people believe that there are too many guns in NSW – licenced or not.
There are 70,000 registered guns in the state. That’s one for every 10 people.
When it comes down to it, the States and Territories have already made a commitment to protect members of the public from gun crimes. They made a commitment to the Port Arthur Agreement on Firearms.
All they have to do is stick to it.
Still not sure whether strong gun control laws are necessary? This video explains why…
This gallery shows some of the silly things that are banned in US schools, instead of guns…
You can sign Gun Control Australia’s petition here.
Do you think gun control laws need to be stronger in NSW?
Top Comments
This is yet another attempt to take away the "free rights" of the people.. Taking guns or the right to own them for sports or hunting specially from law abiding citizens is ridiculous! people sit through courses are members of sport shooting clubs, target practise or hunting clubs. Have to do tests a police background check and have every gun registered and checked upon by the police to ensure it is locked away safely, besides that there are minimum club requirements and attendances needed to be met in order to keep your firearms licence. Where are our rights? if you are not a criminal as labelled by the law then you should not be treated as one, full stop. The people that say no one should have guns well let me tell you not everyone shares your passions or hobbies or point of view, we deserve rights and if we truly are a free country where freedom is actually provided we should be given a choice given we are not criminals and abide by the law that enables us our rights no?
Too right!!! Well said. Give us our rights with out restrictions unless proven we should not have them or that we are a danger to society. What the bloody hell is wrong with that !?
Gun law will only restrict people who obey the law, not outlaws/criminals. How many motorcycle gang members surrendered their firearms during "buy-back" period? Regardless there is gun law or not, illegally-obtained firearms will always be out there. Gun law will tip the favour to the criminals with firearms.
Violent behaviour will always be part of human nature, & that's why weapons were created.
People always forget that weapons can not only be used to attack people, but can also to protect themselves.
If someone break into your house with a firearm, would you be happy if you have "something" to fight them back, to protect your family?