E-Petition

The Petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House that Queensland Weapons License holders are subject to rigorous background checks, ongoing compliance requirements, and strict regulatory oversight. 

Acts of violence with people using firearms, and subsequent statements made in public discourse have, at times, created an implication that licensed firearms ownership is connected with terrorism and/or criminal activity. That somehow the firearm has caused the violence (for example in the case of the recent Bondi shootings). Unsubstantiated illiterate commentary from biased based sources will not help in the reduction of bias crime in our community. Such implications mislead the public, undermining evidence-based policy debate, and unfairly associating law-abiding citizens with criminal, extremist or terrorist conduct which law abiding Australians completely and actively reject.

Law abiding firearms owners support stronger oversight of terrorist and criminal activities and we support stronger penalties for terrorist and criminal acts.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to:

1. Refrain from classifying, describing, or regulating licensed, law-abiding firearms owners in a manner that associates them with terrorism or extremist activity; and 
2. Ensure that firearms policy and legislation is proportionate, evidence-based, and clearly distinguishes licensed firearms owners from criminal or terrorist actors.