Hon. Paul Papalia CSC MLA

Minister for Police; Road Safety; Defence Industry; Veterans Issues

 

Dear Paul,

I write as a resident of the Kingsley electorate,(I have already written to Mrs Jessica Mary Christine Stojkovski MLA) and as a law-abiding licensed firearm owner in Western Australia.

I am a member of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Western Australia (SSAA WA) and we form a large part of the local community who enjoy target shooting, recreational hunting and who play an important role in conservation through pest management.

As an SSAA WA member I abide to a Code of Conduct which compels me to:

• Obey the rules of firearm laws and regulations.
• Undertake to do all in my power to preserve the good image of the sport and the Association.
• Support game management and wildlife conservation.
• Encourage new shooters, both young and old, to acquire knowledge and ethical attitudes relating to game management, conservation and safe firearms ownership, all of which are the hallmark of a sporting shooter.

Recently, you and the WA Government announced measures that affect my chosen sport and pastime as a part of its review of the WA Firearms Act.

These measures have been insinuating that registered legal firearms and firearms licence holders are a threat to public safety.

The language being used by members of the government and the police suggests little regard for our community.

I am calling on you, as the Minister representing the Governments actions, to reinstate consultation with all firearms user and industry groups in WA to reopen lines of communication and work with our community in the interests of improving public safety.

I ask you and our Premier to realise that it is the SSAA of WA that trains all ages of peoples from all walks of life in the skill of handling and firing a rifle and/or hand gun.

Prior to WW1 and WW2 a great part of our population were gun owners and users throughout their normal lives. It was this fact that assisted our Federal Government to enlist vast numbers of troops to fight in these wars. The majority of recruits were already familiar with the use of rifles and therefore adapted very quickly to Military Training and use of Weapons.

With the impending growth of the Chinese aggressive dominating posture in our northern regions it may not be that long before the need for weaponry familiarity will once again be of a great benefit in the Defence of Australia.

My contention is that all State and the Federal Governments should be encouraging, young men in particular, to gain some degree of skill and capability in handling Firearms.

Instead of trying to limit access to firearms by the general public, all Governments should not just be supporting this proposition but advancing it by establishing and operating Rifle Ranges and Gun Galleries across the entire country. Every city should have at least six rifle ranges and six, gun galleries and every region at least one of each.

This is my personal suggestion but I know the SSAA would jump to be the Governments as a partner and coordinator in such a program.

Thank you for your time and sincere regards.

 

Peter Billington

18^th February 2023