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Four Corners: June 10

Four Corners looks at the rise in firearm ownership in Australia.

2013-06-07_2236Monday’s Four Corners features “The Hunting Party”, a report by Matthew Carney on the rise in firearm ownership in Australia, as hunting increases in popularity.

Many hunters say they do it to get back to nature and to source fresh meat. While they put ethics and safety first, it’s the rogue hunter that is the problem.

This week Four Corners reporter Matthew Carney goes bush to experience the thrill of the chase and the kill. Crucially, he tries to understand why hunters want to water down gun laws and why they are targeting National Parks to expand their sport.

In 1996 in the wake of the Port Arthur Massacre, then-Prime Minister John Howard risked his political reputation by introducing legislation that banned assault-style guns and dramatically restricted the importation and ownership of semi-automatic weapons. Howard’s reforms demanded all guns be registered and the government spent millions of taxpayer dollars in a radical buy-back scheme. Gun ownership fell and so too did violent gun-related deaths.

Now firearm ownership is on the increase again and part of the reason is the increased popularity of hunting. Most hunters say they want the government to open up National Parks for sport and they now have the political power to back their demands. In NSW, the Shooters and Fishers Party has the balance of power in the State’s upper house. Some of their key demands involve making guns easier to obtain, and winding back restrictions on some semi-automatic weapons.

“I think in certain contexts semi-automatics are useful in the right hands, in the right way they’re not a danger to anybody.” – Robert Borsack, NSW Shooters and Fishers Party

It’s a demand that concerns many in the city, but it’s the Shooters and Fishers’ other major demand that alarms people in the bush. The Party, having worked to gain access to State Forests, now wants hunters to gain access to National Parks. Robert Borsack claims it would help eradicate feral animals, but others who work in State Forests say it will result in people being killed.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m lucky I’m not dead and some of the blokes are too and they refuse to work in these areas … it’s too dangerous.” – Feral-animal trapper

In spite of these warnings, hunting permits are on the rise and less experienced people are acquiring a license to kill. The complicating factor for those seeking to dilute gun laws and expand the sport is that less experienced hunters are more likely to harm themselves and others. The Shooters and Fishers say they want one Senator in each Australian State after the next election. If they are successful, the major parties will be forced to deal directly with this issue.

Monday 10th June at 8.30pm on ABC1.

3 Responses

  1. Looks like more mass hysteria pointed at the game council ?, you can be the one doing the screaming or the one been screamed at we are all becoming victims of it, open your eyes the media feed off of it, remember the live cattle trade . Walk a mile in my shoes before you criticise and abuse.

  2. Why is it easier to get a gun license than it is to get your drivers license?

    Frankly i wouldn’t feel very safe, working in National Parks either!

    It seems like a must see!

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