An international hunting, industry and shooting sports organisation – of which the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (SSAA National) is a founding member – is celebrating the work an American outdoorsman does to translate the lifestyle of hunters and fishers to the public with a prestigious award.
Steven Rinella, creator of the MeatEater podcast and television show, is the 2023 recipient of the World Forum on Shooting Activities (WFSA) Dr Vito Genco Shooting Ambassador Award.
The award seeks to improve the public perception of shooting sports by recognising the extraordinary contributions made by key influencers in the hunting/sport shooting community.
In accepting his award Steven talked of how the outdoors, fishing and hunting as a child had given him countless great opportunities in his life.
“I was brought up by my father as an avid hunter or fisherman and trapper and shooter,” he said.
“My dad always said to focus on doing what you love for work and so ever since I was a little kid, I knew I would find a way to make a living in the outdoors.”
Steven is most well-known for his long-running television show MeatEater and associated podcast. The television show is now in its eleventh season and is streamed on Netflix. He is also a New York Times bestselling author of ten books covering wildlife, hunting, fishing and wild game cooking. His books include The MeatEater Guide to Wilderness Skills and Survival, Outdoor Kids in an Inside World: Getting Your Family Out of the House and Radically Engaged with Nature.
Steven’s award was given at the WFSA Plenery Session 2023 in Germany in early March in conjunction with the International Trade Fair for Hunting and Sport Shooting.
On our shores, the Australian Federal Government released a report into the first 12 months of the Permanent National Firearms Amnesty, revealing 17,543 firearms and weapons were surrendered and around one third of these were subsequently registered for legal ownership. Firearms parts and accessories can also be handed in as a part of the amnesty and 606 items had been surrendered during the first 12 months.
The amnesty was approved by the former Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management in November 2019 and commenced on July 1, 2021. Individuals are encouraged to surrender unwanted, unregistered or otherwise illegally held firearms and firearm-related articles by providing protection from prosecution for the act of surrendering a firearm or related item. People can choose to register, sell or destroy the firearms they hand in.
Some states and territories provided information around whether firearms handed in had previously been reported as stolen or missing. There were 16 firearms previously noted as stolen that are now accounted for and 30 missing firearms accounted for across New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.
The Permanent National Firearms Amnesty continues and allows anyone in possession of an unregistered or unwanted firearm to surrender it anonymously without penalty. It also allows for the registration and sale of firearms. The process for surrendering a firearm for each state and territory can be found at www.crimestoppers.com.au/firearmamnesty/
| Surrenders Made Under The Permanent National Firearms Amnesty | ||
| Jurisdiction | Firearms and Weapons | Firearms parts and accessories |
| Australian Capital Territory | 520 | 27 |
| New South Wales | 6704 | 417 |
| Northern Territory | 146 | 0 |
| Queensland | 2835 | 18 |
| South Australia | 1044 | 81* |
| Tasmania | 916 | 33 |
| Victoria | 3279 | Not available |
| Western Australia | 2099 | 30 |
| Total | 17,543 | 606 |