John Howard says erosion of Australia's gun safety laws would be 'huge mistake'
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Version 0 of 1. John Howard has warned against the erosion of Australia’s gun safety laws, arguing it would be “a huge mistake” if the Abbott government failed to ban imports of the Adler A110 rapid-fire shotgun. Related: After 20 years, Australia's gun control debate is igniting once again The former prime minister said it was “self-evident” the gun, imports of which could be legal in 12 months under a deal secured by Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm, should be kept out of the country. “If the government ends up letting this in, and not treating it as it should be ... then I’d be very critical,” Howard said on Tuesday. He told the Sydney audience at an event for Gun Control Australia he had contacted the Attorney General’s Department about the Adler and been assured the sunset clause on its ban was only inserted because of an ongoing review of the 1996 National Firearms Agreement. “But long before the sun sets you’ll have the results of this review and you can make a decision on the substance,” Howard said. Leyonhjelm has said he “blackmailed” the government into allowing imports of the weapon, which is capable of firing seven shots in succession, but is not technically considered a semi-automatic, and therefore banned, gun. In exchange, the libertarian senator voted against a Labor amendment requiring an adult or guardian be present when blood, saliva or fingerprints are taken from children by the Australia’s Border Force. Nearly two decades after the Port Arthur tragedy, Howard recalled being “stunned” at the news 35 people had been killed in one of the world’s deadliest gun massacres. “My judgment was that the great majority of the Australian public wanted something done,” he said, though he admitted change was “resisted by a lot of constitutional and political conservatives”. He revealed that state premiers at the time were given an ultimatum to sign up to a national agreement ushering in the new regime, which included a mass buyback of weapons and strict licensing rules. “If they weren’t all prepared to come to the party we would be willing to hold a referendum,” Howard said. “I have no doubt that that referendum would have been carried.” Future buybacks should be considered, he said, “but you’d need to present the evidence and persuade the public”. He said anyone concerned that shooters’ parties were undermining the changes he brought in nearly 20 years ago should agitate through the democratic process. “Don’t lose faith in the representative, democratic process. It does work,” he said. “Earbashing your local member ... can be effective.” |