Shots fired over handgun issue
Pilbara News, Page: 6. Wednesday, 29 April, 2009
Amendments to the 1973 Firearms Act restricting primary producers and pastoralists from carrying and using handguns, have ignited fierce political debate as station owners would be forced to use other firearms, such as rifles.
Federal Member for Kalgoorlie Barry Haase has called North West MLA Vince Catania’s support on the issue a “Johnny-come-lately” effort.
Mr Catania has accused Mr Haase of “political point-scoring” on the issue after he released a statement claiming Mr Catania was “firing blanks in opposition”.
Mr Haase and Mr Catania both agreed pastoralists and station owners should be able to carry a handgun.
“The existing WA law prohibits a farmer or pastoralist from carrying a handgun for the legitimate purpose of destroying stock or vermin,” Mr Haase said.
However, words have been slung back and forth over which party is to blame over the amendments.
Mr Catania suggested it was the fault of Mr Haase’s Federal Liberal party colleagues as they introduced firearm restrictions after the Port Arthur massacre.
“Firstly, Barry was a part of the Liberal Howard Government which brought these changes in and secondly, he’s never brought this subject to light,” Mr Catania said.
Mr Haase rejected Mr Catania’s view and said he had got it wrong.
“The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) regulations of the Howard Government, those changes were brought in after the Port Arthur massacre [in 1996] and I was elected in 1998, so that doesn’t work,” Mr Haase said.
Mr Catania said pastoralists were being stripped of their handguns, which they relied on for safety.
“Barry Haase’s statement should not be attacking me; he should be attacking the situation and showing there is bipartisan support in ensuring pastoralists can keep their tool of the trade, and that ‘s their handgun,” he said.
“Pastoralists don’t get involved in underworld killings,” said Mr Haase.
“Pastoralists are working quite hard enough trying to survive out there with meagre resources and the Government, through its ineptitude, comes along and puts this sort of regulation in place and just makes it even more difficult.”
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