Drizzt
Member
The Age (Melbourne)
February 28, 2003 Friday
SECTION: News; Pg. 6
LENGTH: 497 words
HEADLINE: Sporting Shooters Face Tougher Rules
BYLINE: Phillip Hudson Political Correspondent
BODY:
Canberra -- Sporting shooters must take part in at least 10 approved target shooting competitions every year or they will lose their guns under tough new handgun laws.
Victoria yesterday became the first state to introduce legislation into Parliament to tighten gun laws after last year's national agreement brokered by Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Steve Bracks.
It comes just four months after a licensed gun owner was charged with killing two students and injuring five others at Monash University.
Victoria's Police Minister, Andre Haermeyer, said the legislation was expected to remove 9000 pistols, particularly concealable weapons, from the state. It would also double some handgun penalties to a maximum of 14 years' jail.
Sporting shooters will have new restrictions on the type and number of guns they can own. Pistols able to fire more than 10 bullets without reloading will be banned, as will those with a small barrel length.
Sporting shooters will be required to prove their dedication to the sport and must compete in at least 10 approved competitions each year to keep their target-shooting licence.
Those with three or more guns must compete in a minimum of four competitions for each firearm.
"Shooters who fail to meet minimum requirements will be compelled to surrender their handguns," Mr Haermeyer said.
Victoria has also gone further than the national agreement by imposing new rules on licensed gun owners bringing friends to a pistol range to learn to shoot.
Instead of people being able to "try out" shooting under strictly supervised conditions, they now must apply to police for a temporary seven-day permit.
"This will be available to a person who wishes to try out the sport before joining a handgun target-shooting club," Mr Haermeyer said.
People will be limited to three permits, after which they will have to apply for a full gun licence.
Victorian Amateur Pistol Association president Sharon Reynolds criticised this change, warning that it would discourage people from taking up the sport.
"It may prevent a potential Olympic or Commonwealth Games shooter even taking up the sport because it is an impediment to someone trying it out to see how they feel," Ms Reynolds said.
She said existing laws allowed a person to try the sport under strict supervision, but the requirement to obtain a permit from police was an impediment. She said there could be a long delay and a fee. "Many people simply won't bother and won't come back," she said. "It's like going into a shoe shop and saying I like these shoes but not being able to try them on because you haven't got permission yet."
The Government said people trying out target shooting should face the same police scrutiny as those wanting a gun licence.
The legislation would implement the national agreement to introduce a system of graduated access for pistols based on training, experience and competition, in a bid to prevent the rapid stockpiling of guns.
February 28, 2003 Friday
SECTION: News; Pg. 6
LENGTH: 497 words
HEADLINE: Sporting Shooters Face Tougher Rules
BYLINE: Phillip Hudson Political Correspondent
BODY:
Canberra -- Sporting shooters must take part in at least 10 approved target shooting competitions every year or they will lose their guns under tough new handgun laws.
Victoria yesterday became the first state to introduce legislation into Parliament to tighten gun laws after last year's national agreement brokered by Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Steve Bracks.
It comes just four months after a licensed gun owner was charged with killing two students and injuring five others at Monash University.
Victoria's Police Minister, Andre Haermeyer, said the legislation was expected to remove 9000 pistols, particularly concealable weapons, from the state. It would also double some handgun penalties to a maximum of 14 years' jail.
Sporting shooters will have new restrictions on the type and number of guns they can own. Pistols able to fire more than 10 bullets without reloading will be banned, as will those with a small barrel length.
Sporting shooters will be required to prove their dedication to the sport and must compete in at least 10 approved competitions each year to keep their target-shooting licence.
Those with three or more guns must compete in a minimum of four competitions for each firearm.
"Shooters who fail to meet minimum requirements will be compelled to surrender their handguns," Mr Haermeyer said.
Victoria has also gone further than the national agreement by imposing new rules on licensed gun owners bringing friends to a pistol range to learn to shoot.
Instead of people being able to "try out" shooting under strictly supervised conditions, they now must apply to police for a temporary seven-day permit.
"This will be available to a person who wishes to try out the sport before joining a handgun target-shooting club," Mr Haermeyer said.
People will be limited to three permits, after which they will have to apply for a full gun licence.
Victorian Amateur Pistol Association president Sharon Reynolds criticised this change, warning that it would discourage people from taking up the sport.
"It may prevent a potential Olympic or Commonwealth Games shooter even taking up the sport because it is an impediment to someone trying it out to see how they feel," Ms Reynolds said.
She said existing laws allowed a person to try the sport under strict supervision, but the requirement to obtain a permit from police was an impediment. She said there could be a long delay and a fee. "Many people simply won't bother and won't come back," she said. "It's like going into a shoe shop and saying I like these shoes but not being able to try them on because you haven't got permission yet."
The Government said people trying out target shooting should face the same police scrutiny as those wanting a gun licence.
The legislation would implement the national agreement to introduce a system of graduated access for pistols based on training, experience and competition, in a bid to prevent the rapid stockpiling of guns.
