Significant quotes of 2002
Dave Rodgers, vice chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the ban made little difference to the number of guns in the hands of criminals. According to a recent survey, the number of crimes in which a handgun was reported increased nationally from 2648 in 1997-98 to 3685 in 1999-2000. “The underground supply of guns does not seem to have dried up at all,” he said.
The Associated Press, 9 January 2002
“Prohibition doesn’t work. It just makes life harder for people.”
Lee Rhiannon, NSW Greens MLC
Seven News website, 19 February 2002
“Most of our violent crime in Australia is committed by licensed shooters.”
Samantha Lee, National Coalition for Gun Control
Radio 2GB, Sydney, 16 April 2002
“I hate guns.”
John Howard, Prime Minister
Radio 2GB, Sydney, 17 April 2002
“We believe that one, there may be deals going on between governments and the shooters’ party.”
Samantha Lee, National Coalition for Gun Control
Radio 612 ABC, Brisbane, 16 July 2002
“I think there’s been too much concentration in Australia by the Police Ministers on illegal trafficking.”
Samantha Lee, National Coalition for Gun Control
‘Australia Talks Back’, ABC, 23 October 2002
“If you impose greater penalties on handgun owners, it is not going to impact on the persons who are likely to use them in crime.”
Jenny Mouzos, Australian Institute of Criminology researcher
23 October 2002
“Let me make this prediction: John Howard will get what he wants on guns. In the end, a Prime Minister gets what he wants.”
Bob Carr, NSW Premier
Sydney Morning Herald, 30 November 2002
Tell Bob this was my plan. And I got exactly what Queensland Government wanted. It was our plan, the Prime Minister has agreed to it, and we’re delighted.
On claims he was dragged kicking and screaming to agree to the handgun buyback.
Peter Beattie, Queensland Premier
Radio 612 ABC, Brisbane, 7 December 2002
Chance of dying in a year at the population’s average rate of exposure to the risk. Owning firearms: 1 in 33,000.
NSW Department of Planning, Hazardous Industry Planning Advisory Paper No. 4, ‘Risk criteria for Land Use Safety Planning’, 2002
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