SSAA National CEO Tim Bannister shared his disagreement with comparing shooting with the “unmarketable” tobacco industry on ABC talkback radio on August 3, rejecting the claim that guns are only being used as “weapons” and “to kill”.

In response to statements made by ABC social commentator Jane Caro, Tim said that such views were “socially biased”, and he highlighted the many gold medals that sporting shooters have won by participating in this legitimate sport.

Tim also spoke out against the negative portrayal of hunting and licensed firearm owners as played out in the media, highlighting the rejection of publishing a SSAA opinion piece because it wasn’t ‘sensational’ enough for publication in the mainstream media.