A LIMESTONE Coast firearms dealer believes tightening gun legislation further would be a step too far and cause frustration for registered owners.
His claims follows the State Government foreshadowing possible changes to the Firearms Act, which would see laws strengthened to provide increased safety for South Australians.
The considerations of changes follows an incident on Friday in the Adelaide Hills where a cache of weapons including illegal handguns, semi-automatic rifles, insecure ammunition and a crossbow were seized by police.
Two men were also charged last week after a firearm was discharged at a house in Port MacDonnell during a violent home invasion and theft.
State Police Minister Corey Wingard said it was incidents such as this that justifiably raise concern among the community.
“We have seen overseas, just on the weekend in a horrific event in El Paso, about the consequences of gun violence and we are not going to let that happen here,”Minister Wingard said.
“We will release details of our considerations soon, but South Australians can rest assured they have a government that is committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect them from gun violence.”
However, Gambier Shooting Supplies owner Dane Hastings said the announcement appeared to be a knee-jerk reaction.
“They only just re-worked the Firearms Act two years ago, so I think for this one incident to draw this response is just a knee-jerk reaction,” Mr Hastings said.
“I am all for extra security of firearms and I think the way the Act is structured at the moment is within reason, but any further tightening would be a stretch.”
Mr Hastings said a larger focus should be placed on those criminals doing the wrong thing rather than changing the legislation.
“Criminals do not care about the legislation, they will get access to guns and use them as they wish,” he said.
He said law-abiding registered firearms owners were the group paying the biggest price.
“All my customers cop the brunt of the law changes and they have not done anything wrong,” he said.
“They already feel like they are nailed to the wall by the Act and you can understand their frustration if more changes are made.”
Minister Wingard tried to alleviate those concerns by stating that responsible firearm owners would not be affected by any considered changes.
But, he said, it was also important legislation ensured firearms were not allowed to flow into the hands of inappropriate people.
“The focus is on laws which keep firearms out of the hands of idiots,” he said.
In recent times, firearms have fallen into the wrong hands in the Limestone Coast.
In August last year, a young man was shot on a residential street in Mount Gambier, which saw him transported to hospital with a serious wound.
Three months later, a man was located at his home with a minor gunshot wound in his leg.
Police have not charged anyone in relation to either incident.
Also in August, three Tantanoola residents were arrested after a search of their premises uncovered several stolen firearms.
Police seized seven firearms from the property – shotguns and rifles – which were allegedly stolen during break-ins at Tarpeena, Penola and Millicent.
This matter is still before the courts.
