DAN TOO READY TO BAN
On Tuesday, the State Government announced a ban on the sale of firearms and ammunition “to prevent potential stockpiling” in response to an increase in firearm permit applications.
The sale of firearms in Victoria is heavily regulated, with all Permits to Acquire (PTA) requiring approval from the Licencing and Regulation Division of Victoria Police.
The stockpiling of firearms is already prohibited.
There is no evidence to suggest that legal firearm owners in Victoria have a higher propensity to commit acts of domestic violence.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur has called for the ban on sales to be reversed.
Quotes attributable to Bev McArthur MP:
“This ban is unnecessary and is yet another example of the Labor Government appealing to inner-city voters inside the tram tracks of Melbourne who have never seen a firearm apart from on the television.”
“Victoria Police stringently oversee all firearm permit applications – so unless the Premier is alleging incompetency at our exemplary police force, he should have nothing to worry about.”
“The only reason permit applications may have increased is due to fears over the drying up of the supply chain, with 68% of Australia’s firearm imports coming from the US where there have been significant domestic firearm sales.”
“Lisa Neville needs to apologise to all law-abiding firearm owners in Victoria who she suggested were prone to succumbing to ‘pressures around family violence’ or providing ‘additional firearms... that criminals may access’.”
“These allegations are ludicrous and totally unfair to a responsible section of the community. Gun owners are not domestic abusers or criminals in waiting. The only people affected by this ban are law-abiding firearm owners.”
“If this government continues on this path of total control over the lives of all Victorians, there will be little left in the way of recreational pursuits, especially outside the tram tracks, for people to enjoy. In the end, individuals have to be responsible for their own lives and those of their dependents. Governments neither have the solution to all problems nor the right to totally control how individuals live their lives.”
2 April 2020