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Four Corners: Oct 22

ABC reports on how a cashed-up gun industry has Australia’s firearms laws in its sights.

On Monday’s Four Corners, Sean Nicholls reports on “Big Guns:” How a cashed-up gun industry has Australia’s firearms laws in its sights.

“This is the gun industry lobby redux. They’re back. And they’re ready to spend.” Gun law researcher

They’re the new force in Australian politics – a lobby group funded and directed by major firearms sellers and manufacturers and they’re taking aim at Australia’s politicians.

“We’re looking to enter a new era of engagement…We want governments to be held accountable for the decisions they make.” Gun industry spokesperson

Their campaign represents a newly emboldened firearms industry set on changing Australia’s gun laws.

“You’ve got an industry which is prepared to leap in. And they’ve got a lot of money.” Gun law researcher

On Monday Four Corners investigates how the gun movement in Australia is reawakening and examines the new tactics they’re employing to make their presence felt on the political scene.

“The campaign they were running had nothing to do with guns. The idea I think was to inspire people to move their vote to protest vote with minor parties.” Campaign manager

The industry openly declares it wants to influence how governments are formed and the policies they enact.

“We were aiming for a government which couldn’t be formed by majority.” Gun industry spokesperson

Four Corners investigates the industry’s political allegiances and how these connections are being used to chip away at gun laws around the country.

“There’s been a lot of whittling away around the edges, trying to water down the effect of the law, to do anything possible to reduce the effect of the law for the convenience of shooters and the benefit of the arms industry.” Gun law researcher

Some political allies say that gun ownership is not simply a matter of convenience, it’s a national security issue.

“I want more firearms sold because I want more firearms, you know? I want more people involved in protecting our country.” Politician

Those who delivered the national agreement to limit firearms after the Port Arthur massacre say Australians need to sit up and take notice.

“There is a muscling up by those making money out of a trade of guns into this country, and we need to watch that very closely.” Gun control advocate

Monday 22nd October at 8.30pm on ABC.

4 Responses

  1. I believe the Anti Gun Lobby Mob Act like they do because they Cannot get a Firearms Licence , because If a Background Check was done on them Then Things of a Criminal Nature might surface, It is a Well known Fact throughout the world that those of Criminal Intent Like to Push the Law Abiding around. The Law Abiding Should Not be held Accountable for The Actions of a Few suffering the condition of Non Compos Mentis

  2. Thank goodness Australia doesn’t have an equivalent to the USA’s second amendment which is so badly phrased that even the USA’s supreme court couldn’t work out its true intent many years ago and therefore gave it its broadest meaning, to the best of my memory.

    I am looking forward to seeing Four Corners next Monday as this looks like a particularly interesting episode.

  3. Their aim is to be an Oz version of the American NRA but whilst we have become more culturally Americanised in many ways there are limits to what we would tolerate . Definitely a Four Corners to tune into though.

  4. Somewhat of a beat up-here in WA restrictions are ever tightening-defence is a red herring as the types of weapons the ADF uses are the sort of thing that no civilian is ever going to own or use privately and basic marksmanship used to be taught by the school cadet corps with just single shot .22 calibre bolt action rifles-now just a pale shadow of what it once was.

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