Page 794 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 March 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Of particular interest, Mr Speaker, is clause 24(2). The Government has taken into account the Domestic Violence Act 1986. Of growing concern in the community is the problem of domestic violence, and the extent to which domestic violence can become so much worse when firearms are involved. The ability for somebody to lose control of a weapon when they are under a restraining order is, I think, a very positive move indeed. It reflects the very positive attitude of this Bill towards weapons.
I am aware of quite a number of people in this house, Mr Speaker, who have been trained in the use of weapons and who have no great difficulty with weapons being used in an appropriate way and in a controlled fashion. I have used weapons on many occasions and I believe that I have used them appropriately at all times. It is appropriate that citizens, when they have an interest, are able to do so, and this Bill provides for that, without any doubt at all.
It also provides measures to ensure restrictions where there is a risk that weapons may be used inappropriately. That is most appropriate. The notion, for example, Mr Speaker, of automatic weapons being available to the general public is quite inappropriate. I cannot see any reason for a recreational shooter to be involved with an automatic weapon.
Schedule 3 lists the prohibited weapons. One of the weapons prohibited, item 7, is a weapon that is capable of propelling projectiles in rapid succession during one pressure of the trigger. That is the definition of an automatic weapon. But part (b) of item 7 is more important. Most people who have had anything to do with arms are aware that in the case of a repeating rifle, for example, it is normally only a matter of filing a sear if you want to change it to an automatic weapon. It is certainly not a difficult process. Therefore, to include in item 7(b) a prohibited weapon, a weapon that substantially duplicates the automatic weapon but which is not capable of propelling the projectiles in rapid succession during one pressure of the trigger is also very important. I say that because those sorts of weapons can be used much more indiscriminately and - - -
Debate interrupted.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .