NSW FARMERS & FIREARM OWNERS

Sick and tired of being persecuted for Sydney's firearms crimes?

When the Firearms Amendment (Ammunition Control) Bill 2012 was introduced on 5 June 2012 it was claimed by the O'Farrell government the new controls on the sale of ammunition would "provide additional support to our law enforcement agencies to tackle gun-related crime." Yet, even before it was implemented the Government's own MP's, as well as many others, knew this legislation was not targeted at criminals and would not work:
"Criminals do not obey the law. Criminals do not, as a general rule, use registered firearms when committing crimes. Criminals are not interested in public safety and criminals will not be deterred by the provisions of the Firearms Amendment (Ammunition Control) Bill 2012. Notwithstanding the best intentions of this Government, I fear that this bill will miss its target and gun-related crime will continue unaffected and undeterred." Mr Glenn Brookes MP, Liberal member for East Hills 10 May 2012 "But sometimes, when presented with a bit of legislation such as thiswhich is really just abject nonsenseyou have to stand up and say something about it. The Firearms Amendment (Ammunition Control) Bill 2012 is abject nonsense." Mr Greg Piper MP, Independent member for Lake Macquarie 10 May 2012 "One has to wonder how a high-ranking police officer would suggest that this piece of legislation would address the occurrence of drive-by shootings in western Sydney. ... When this bill was introduced I thought it seemed innocuous but after I read its contents closely I could not see how it would reduce drive-by shootings in western Sydney." Mr John Williams MP, Nationals member for Murray-Darling 10 May 2012 "I have to say from the outset that this bill is fundamentally flawed. It is flawed because it targets the wrong people. The bill makes it tough for law-abiding registered gun owners instead of criminals. Once this bill is passed the law-abiding public will have to deal with the additional costs and red tape associated with owning a firearm. Farmers, sporting shooters and gun shop owners are the ones who will carry the cost, and for the criminals it is business as usual." Mr Christopher Gulaptis, Nationals member for Clarence 10 May 2012 "I reiterate that drive-by shootings are carried out by people who obtain firearms and ammunition illegally. Imposing further restrictions on legal firearms owners will not have a great impact on those offenders because they do not abide by the laws of this State and the shootings are an ongoing problem." Mr Paul Toole MP, Nationals member for Bathurst 10 May 2012

Mr O'Farrell, Sydney's gun crime continues unabated and criminals continue to have unhindered access to illegal firearms and ammunition. Not only has your government's non-targeted Ammunition Control legislation failed to stem drive-by shootings, the collateral consequences foreshadowed for law-abiding firearm owners have become a reality with break & enters and theft of legal firearms now a regular occurrence. Law-abiding firearm owners of NSW have had enough; we now expect you to do the right thing and withdraw your government's failed non-targeted Ammunition Control legislation.