December 2011 President message
A good year for SSAA National
The Australian Institute of Criminology recently gave our Secure Your Gun, Secure Your Sport campaign national recognition in its annual Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards. This campaign has formed a part of long-running efforts by SSAA National to educate and encourage our members to meet firearms storage legislation in their respective state or territory.
The AIC recognised SSAA National with a Certificate of Merit and a $1000 bursary as a part of its program, which aims to recognise good practice in the prevention or reduction of violence or other types of crime in Australia. We at SSAA National are honoured to have been recognised, among other important crime and violence prevention programs from around Australia, for a campaign we have been continually improving since 1999. This recognition helps to promote SSAA members as responsible and law-abiding members of the community, and SSAA National plans to use the award prize money to further firearm safety and storage education programs.
In addition to the above achievement, I’d like to say that it has been another big year for SSAA National. We started our lobbying efforts early, providing feedback to the Attorney-General’s Department on Firearms Importation Regime, Pedestrian Safety regarding bull-bars, and Weapons Controls with a focus on knives.
The South Australian and Victorian duck hunting seasons brought much focus on hunting as a recreational activity, and SSAA National’s Project Officer in Hunting Matthew Godson worked with The University of Queensland to develop best practices for dealing with deer in that state. Matthew also organised hunting advocates from within the SSAA’s ranks to meet and discuss a national approach to send a unified message to Australians about why hunters are true conservationists. SSAA National attended the 2011 Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference in Sydney and was able to spread the Be Part of the Solution message with scientists and industry leaders in animal control and conservation from across the region.
On the eve of the 15-year anniversary of the Port Arthur mass murders, Media Officer Rachael Andrews represented us in a 7pm Project television interview, discussing why firearms have a legitimate place in Australia. And in further political investigations, it was revealed that discount travel website Wotif.com founder Graeme Wood bolstered the most recent Federal Greens’ campaign with $1.6 million. Perhaps not surprising was the fact that SSAA National’s request for comment on the matter was ignored.
The Australian Shooter magazine featured stories and reviews on a wide range of the latest firearms released in Australia and gave readers with special interests some great themed issues on Reloading, Shotgun, and Rimfire and Centrefire firearms. We released a special ASJ insert for members, which delved into the current state of hunting in Australia and the SSAA’s efforts to promote hunting through our Be Part of the Solution campaign, and also released two issues of The Junior Shooter, featuring stories on up-and-coming shooters and advice for those new to shooting and hunting.
This is, of course, only a snapshot of the projects and issues SSAA National has been involved in this year. Remember that you can always check out www.ssaa.org.au for the latest information and goings on.
With 2011 almost behind us, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year on behalf of myself, the SSAA National Board and our staff. We look forward to what 2012 will bring.
Bob Green
SSAA National President
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