Response by Attorney-General Gary Humphries to Victorian gun law changes
4 May 1998
Mr Bill Shelton
National President
Sporting Shooters' Association Of Australia (Inc)
PO Box 2066
Kent Town, SA 5071
Dear Mr Shelton
Thank you for your letters of 11 March 1998 addressed to the Chief Minister, Mrs Kate Carnell MLA, and me, in which you seek support for a reconsideration of the ACT gun control laws relating to the 28 day cooling off period for second and subsequent firearms licenses. Mrs Carnell has asked me to reply on her behalf.
On 12 July 1997, prior to the meeting of the Australasian Police Ministers' Council (APMC) in Adelaide, I released a statement to the media in which I clearly stated that the ACT Government would resist any attempt to "wind back the clock on gun reforms". I attach a copy of my media release for your information.
APMC was to have considered a proposal allowing a waiver of the 28 day cooling off period in respect of purchasing a second and any subsequent firearm, but that proposal was withdrawn from the agenda prior to the Council meeting.
I released a further statement to the media on 3 March 1998 (copy attached), in which I repeated my resolve not to wind back on the gun laws, particularly in light of the Victorian and South Australian proposals to weaken the nationally accepted position in relation to firearms acquisition laws.
I have considered the issues raised in your letter and remain unconvinced of the necessity to further erode the established position. The intention of the 28 day period is to provide a cooling off period and to enable police to undertake necessary checks on the applicant additional to those made at the time of the first licensing application. In my view, the rationale to retain the cooling off period for second and subsequent firearms purchases remains justified.
As you would be aware, the ACT's new firearms legislation was developed in full consultation with representatives of all shooters' organisations in the ACT, including the Sporting shooters' Association of Australia, and was passed unanimously by the Legislative Assembly.
It is the government's firm intention to uphold the nationally agreed position on firearms control and to maintain the ACT's position as a leader in this area.
Yours sincerely
(signed)
Gary Humphries MLA
Minister for Justice and Community Safety
Original held SSAA National
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