Many members contacted the SSAA Legislative Action (SSAA-LA) department concerned about a Fairfax Media article that gave credence to a biased report on the National Firearms Agreement (NFA), authored by notorious anti-gun writer Philip Alpers. Apart from criticising the SSAA’s strong financial position and our advocacy for sensible firearms laws, Mr Alpers inferred that gun owners must be members of the SSAA or gun clubs to prove ‘genuine reason’ of firearm ownership, calling it a “killer quirk” in the NFA.
SSAA National President Geoff Jones was interviewed at length for the story and reiterated that this inference was incorrect: licensed firearm owners do not have to be members of gun clubs or associations in order to obtain or retain a licence. Membership of the SSAA is just one way those interested in the shooting sports can prove their genuine reason; while affordable and beneficial in many ways, it is not mandatory.
The SSAA is closely analysing Mr Alpers’ study, which has not been peer-reviewed, contains outdated information and was commissioned by the anti-gun lobby group, Gun Control Australia.