Federal Member for Farrer David Farley heard firsthand the effect proposed gun buyback schemes will have on his constituents.
On Monday, August 31, Mr Farley met with long-time member and former president of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Griffith branch Warren Brown about his concerns over the scheme.
One Nation supports sporting shooters, clubs, firearms businesses, farmers, landholders and recreational hunters right to firearms.
Following the tragedy that unfolded in Bondi, the Australian government in lieu of some state governments announced a gun buyback scheme.
Both Mr Brown and Mr Farley believe it is unfair and will have a detrimental effect on those on the land and the 500-plus gun club members in the Griffith region.
“We believe we have been unfairly targeted as law-abiding citizens who haven’t caused any problems,” Mr Brown said.
“Different shooting codes require different firearms, and the buybacks would limit this.”
They noted this would also affect farmers in their ability to keep different firearms to handle different jobs, such as culling feral pests like pigs, foxes and rabbits over varying distances.
“On top of that many guns are inherited from past generations and hold significant family ties, such as those used in wars,” Mr Farley said.
“These guns are not making their way into the cities or onto the streets at all.”
Mr Farley said the scheme is evidence of poorly thought-through policy on the government’s part.
“The current policy doesn’t focus on finding and removing illegal firearms, or disarming identified persons of public concern,” Mr Farley said.
“We can’t have a nation pass the consequences onto a regional society who use guns as their tools of trade.”
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