National Party Member for Murrumbidgee condemns gun control publicity stunt
by Adrian Piccoli MP
Media Release by National Party Member for Murrumbidgee
18 September 2006
National Party Spokesman on Firearms, Adrian Piccoli, has condemned today’s publicity stunt by the National Coalition for Gun Control as dangerous.
Mr Piccoli said he was extremely disappointed that the lobby group undertook such a crass publicity stunt, aimed at scaring people into following their cause.
“I am particularly annoyed that this lobby group has sought to tar all firearm owners with the same brush, Mr Piccoli said.
The Federal Minister for Justice, Amanda Vanstone, has herself said that “not one handgun used in a homicide between 1997 and 1999 was used by a licensed owner, and only one gun was registered, but to the victim”.
Mr Piccoli said this meant that no amount of firearms related legislation would reduce hand gun related crime because those firearm owners who comply with the law are not the ones committing crimes with hand guns.
“I stand by what I have always said, that is, what we need are tough criminal laws that are enforced by the Courts to deal with the thugs and hoodlums who obtain hand guns illegally and commit crimes with them.
“If the National Coalition for Gun Control were making those people the only targets of their campaign then they would have my full support.
“However, I cannot support any campaign against law abiding and honest Australians who have committed no crime, so today’s actions by the National Coalition for Gun Control can only be condemned,” Mr Piccoli concluded.
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