In WA up to 90,000 people possess around 360,000 guns.
Public ownership is justified with the possession of a property letter, otherwise known as a written authority provision, whose original purpose was to allow landowners the authority to control vermin with legal firearms including handguns.
However, the property letter system is not foolproof and has become corrupted with landowners selling authorities to shooters, leaving new landholders powerless to prevent uninvited guests from discharging firearms on their land.
As well as giving the power back to landowners, the bill’s reforms under the proposed Firearms Act aim to put a significant dent in the number of firearms circulating in the community with new laws to mandate health assessments on gun applicants.
Assessments would be conducted every five years thereafter up until the age of 80, when it shifts to an annual requirement.
Compulsory firearms training will also be introduced, and numerical limits on weapon ownership will be imposed and linked to licence types tailored to owners’ differing requirements.
The Act’s Mandatory Disqualifying Offences and Orders are geared towards removing firearms from those involved in violent and/or recidivist offences and perpetrators of family harm and domestic violence.
The public will also get to have their say on the changes with the Firearms Bill Consultation Paper being released for submissions.
In a statement to media, WA Premier Roger Cook said, “The changes will see WA introduce the most robust management of firearms in the country. This will also mean the state will be ready and equipped to participate in a national firearms registry.”
Speaking on the Bill’s introduction, Police Minister Paul Papalia said the changes will make it harder overall to obtain a firearms licence.
“There will be stricter regulation surrounding where you can use and store firearms, and many Western Australians who purchased a property letter online as a reason to get a licence may struggle to get a new written authority,” he said.
“The $64.3 million buyback will remove tens of thousands of unnecessary firearms from the community, and see the Cook government establish WA as the first state in Australia to place limits on the number of firearms a person can own.”
West Australians have until September 2024 to participate in the buy-back.
Firearms can be turned in at any WA Police station, and up to $1,000 will be paid as compensation for licenced handguns surrendered. Turning in a semi-automatic handgun will net the owner up to $833 or $750 for a double-barrelled shotgun less than six years old.
Licensed owners have until September to take part in the buyback or until the allocated budget of $64.3 million is exhausted.
