Submission to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee

Inquiry into The Ability of Australian Law Enforcement Authorities to Eliminate -related Violence in the Community

I make this brief submission as a private citizen who has legally owned and responsibly and safely used firearms for more than 40 years. The current rules surrounding the legal ownership, safe storage and use of firearms are strict and well observed by the overwhelming majority of firearm owners. Sporting Clubs go to considerable lengths to teach the safe and responsible use of firearms. In farming communities legal firearms are an essential tool in the control of animals and pests, and for humanely disposing of sick or injured animals. Following bushfires and during droughts regrettably there is often the need for large scale, timely and humane dispatching of suffering animals and only with the assistance of licensed firearms owners is this practical. Without the support of hunters and professional shooters the damage to our environment done by feral animals such as foxes, wild , wild , , and in some parts of the outback by donkeys and camels would be dramatically worse. are in a category of their own. A 2009 report by the Invasive Animals CRC suggested the cost of feral animals to agriculture is around $750M. Take out recreational hunters and this figure could increase dramatically. Recreational hunters who own firearms are recognised world-wide as playing a critical role in the sustainable management of key habitats for native . As Professor David Bellamy, world famous environmental campaigner and himself not a hunter or shooter said, “It is my firm belief that if you take , shooting and out of the vital mix of conservation management, the result would be catastrophic.”* Another aspect of hunting with firearms that must be recognised is the very large contribution it makes to regional communities. A recent independent economic study released by the Victorian Government in June 2014 shows hunting is worth $439million per year to that State. Nationally the figure would add up to several times this.

*from Forward to a paper by Dr David Carter: “The future of recreational hunting in ” –(1999)

While daily news reports from war zones often graphically depict armed participants holding firearms in a threatening way, it is a totally different situation within Australia and fear of firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens is not well placed. For a start, as police reports show, the most frequently used weapon in violent situations is NOT a firearm but either a knife or similar sharp object. Therefore if eliminating violence in the community is the aim of this enquiry then there are many other more frequently used weapons than firearms that should be investigated first. Similarly, media reports of criminal gang activities and firearms are almost always referring to unregistered weapons used by unlicensed people. Stricter requirements for legally owned firearms will have no effect on this and contribute nothing to reducing criminal acts. I expect other submissions will go into details about the legal ownership numbers and many other relevant facts associated with the importance of firearms and associated uses within our community whether they are cultural, economic, social or environmental. By any measure I would argue the thrust of this enquiry should be about law enforcement against illegal activities and not about stricter laws for law-abiding citizens. I would be more than happy to expand on any of the above if the Committee wishes me to.

Hon. David Hawker AO

13th August, 2014

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