Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Police and Emergency Management spokesperson
The Tasmanian Greens tabled a Bill in parliament today to amend the Firearms Act. The purpose of the Firearms Amendment (Rapid Fire Shotguns – Community Safety) Bill 2015 is to help ensure a safe community.
Last week we wrote to the Premier and Opposition Leader and invited them to partner with the Greens on this Bill.
The National Firearm Agreement was a historic, tripartisan agreement when it was signed in 1996. It represented a very simple risk assessment. The community made the decision about rapid fire guns, and chose to prioritise community safety over a free-for-all approach to gun ownership.
A technicality has been used by gun manufacturers to undermine our tough gun laws by using a type of mechanical action in a shotgun that was not foreseen, and so wasn’t specified, by law makers.
The Adler A110 is a shotgun currently in circulation that uses a smooth-cycling, short stroke “lever action” to rapidly fire six rounds in as many seconds.
The Bill closes the loophole. It wouldn’t ban the Adler, and it would still be available for sale. Like pump action shotguns, the Adler would be restricted to groups of people with a demonstrated need, such as primary producers, collectors, or people shooting to control animal populations.
It goes without saying that if a person were to enter a confined space and fire six rounds at close quarters the result would be catastrophic. There wouldn't be an opportunity for defence until all the rounds in the gun had been fired.
I live on a rural property and own a gun that I use for target shooting, to put animals out of their misery and to control feral animals. Most responsible gun owners accept the need for strong gun laws and welcome living in the safer community that these bring.
