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Import of new 'fast and furious' shotgun sidesteps year-long federal ban Import of new 'fast and furious' Adler 110 shotgun sidesteps year-long federal ban
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A new version of a controversial “fast and furious” shotgun is being imported into Australia, sidestepping a year-long federal ban imposed while governments considered claims the gun-type seriously undermines post-Port Arthur gun control laws.A new version of a controversial “fast and furious” shotgun is being imported into Australia, sidestepping a year-long federal ban imposed while governments considered claims the gun-type seriously undermines post-Port Arthur gun control laws.
The Turnbull government now says the ban only applied to guns that could rapid-fire more than five rounds. The new version of the banned gun fires five.The Turnbull government now says the ban only applied to guns that could rapid-fire more than five rounds. The new version of the banned gun fires five.
Australia’s gun laws have been praised internationally – most recently by the US president, Barack Obama, after the latest mass shooting in Oregon – but the domestic gun-control lobby is warning they are being eroded by technical advances in weaponry and by state government concessions.Australia’s gun laws have been praised internationally – most recently by the US president, Barack Obama, after the latest mass shooting in Oregon – but the domestic gun-control lobby is warning they are being eroded by technical advances in weaponry and by state government concessions.
One big technical advance has been in “lever action” shotguns, which the gun control lobby says are now very similar to rapid-fire pump action shotguns.One big technical advance has been in “lever action” shotguns, which the gun control lobby says are now very similar to rapid-fire pump action shotguns.
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In July – as orders for a new Adler 110 lever action shotgun were pouring into a Brisbane gun retailer – the former prime minister Tony Abbott said imports of the weapon would be banned for at least six months.In July – as orders for a new Adler 110 lever action shotgun were pouring into a Brisbane gun retailer – the former prime minister Tony Abbott said imports of the weapon would be banned for at least six months.
A month later, after an angry backlash from gun owners and some self-confessed “blackmail” in the Senate by David Leyonhjelm – who bargained with his vote on unrelated asylum-seeker legislation – the Coalition said the import ban would be lifted after 12 months.A month later, after an angry backlash from gun owners and some self-confessed “blackmail” in the Senate by David Leyonhjelm – who bargained with his vote on unrelated asylum-seeker legislation – the Coalition said the import ban would be lifted after 12 months.
At the time the Adler lever action shotgun being imported was capable of firing seven shots in rapid succession, something Gun Control Australia says gave it similar fire power to pump action shotguns, and would have been available in most states under the most common and least restrictive gun licence.At the time the Adler lever action shotgun being imported was capable of firing seven shots in rapid succession, something Gun Control Australia says gave it similar fire power to pump action shotguns, and would have been available in most states under the most common and least restrictive gun licence.
The National Firearms Agreement clinched in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre restricted shotguns to a small group of shooters, primarily farmers.The National Firearms Agreement clinched in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre restricted shotguns to a small group of shooters, primarily farmers.
But last month the same Brisbane retailer began offering a slightly modified version – one that fires five 12-gauge cartridges, rather than seven.But last month the same Brisbane retailer began offering a slightly modified version – one that fires five 12-gauge cartridges, rather than seven.
A spokeswoman for the justice minister, Michael Keenan, confirmed the new gun was not covered by the ban, which she said applied only to shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than five rounds.A spokeswoman for the justice minister, Michael Keenan, confirmed the new gun was not covered by the ban, which she said applied only to shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than five rounds.
Lever action shotguns have never been previously categorised by the number of shots they can fire but the spokeswoman said “lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of five rounds or less are category A” which means they are generally available to Australia’s 700,000 licensed recreational shooters.Lever action shotguns have never been previously categorised by the number of shots they can fire but the spokeswoman said “lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of five rounds or less are category A” which means they are generally available to Australia’s 700,000 licensed recreational shooters.
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According to Gun Control Australia’s vice-president, Roland Browne, making the Adler available as a “category A” firearm “would ... completely undermine the national firearms agreement. It puts rapid-fire shotguns in the hands of the general community, which is exactly what the agreement was designed to avoid”.According to Gun Control Australia’s vice-president, Roland Browne, making the Adler available as a “category A” firearm “would ... completely undermine the national firearms agreement. It puts rapid-fire shotguns in the hands of the general community, which is exactly what the agreement was designed to avoid”.
And the GCA president, Sam Lee, said whether the gun could fire five or seven cartridges made no difference because it was “the new lever action technology that causes alarm”.And the GCA president, Sam Lee, said whether the gun could fire five or seven cartridges made no difference because it was “the new lever action technology that causes alarm”.
The 12-month ban was intended to allow time for the review by state and federal governments into whether lever action shotguns should only be available under the highly restrictive C and D gun ownership categories.The 12-month ban was intended to allow time for the review by state and federal governments into whether lever action shotguns should only be available under the highly restrictive C and D gun ownership categories.
In its submission to the review of the National Firearms Agreement, set up after the Sydney siege last year, GCA argues that if the Adler is imported as a category A firearm, available to everyone with a gun licence, “it will have a devastating impact on Australia’s strong gun laws and pull Australia back to the pre-Port Arthur days”.In its submission to the review of the National Firearms Agreement, set up after the Sydney siege last year, GCA argues that if the Adler is imported as a category A firearm, available to everyone with a gun licence, “it will have a devastating impact on Australia’s strong gun laws and pull Australia back to the pre-Port Arthur days”.
It cites gun enthusiasts themselves as saying the Adler is a “game-changer” and it “comes as close as possible to being a pump action shotgun without being a pump action”.It cites gun enthusiasts themselves as saying the Adler is a “game-changer” and it “comes as close as possible to being a pump action shotgun without being a pump action”.
But in its preliminary submission to the review, the Sporting Shooters Association said it was incorrect to claim a lever action shotgun was “verging” on being a pump action gun.But in its preliminary submission to the review, the Sporting Shooters Association said it was incorrect to claim a lever action shotgun was “verging” on being a pump action gun.
“A firearm cannot ‘verge’ on being a particular type of firearm; it either is, or it is not. Its mechanism defines the firearm; it cannot ‘sort of’ be like another,” the submission says.“A firearm cannot ‘verge’ on being a particular type of firearm; it either is, or it is not. Its mechanism defines the firearm; it cannot ‘sort of’ be like another,” the submission says.
It also rejects the conclusion that the post-Port Arthur gun laws have lowered Australia’s levels of gun crime.It also rejects the conclusion that the post-Port Arthur gun laws have lowered Australia’s levels of gun crime.
“It is clear that public safety is almost always threatened by the unlicensed person with the unregistered firearm in the rare case where firearms are involved,” it says, and claims the national firearms agreement “has also been found to have no large effects on reducing firearm homicide or suicide rates”.“It is clear that public safety is almost always threatened by the unlicensed person with the unregistered firearm in the rare case where firearms are involved,” it says, and claims the national firearms agreement “has also been found to have no large effects on reducing firearm homicide or suicide rates”.
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The National party is also deeply concerned about any new gun ownership restrictions and the review poses an early test of the new prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s relationship with his Coalition partners.The National party is also deeply concerned about any new gun ownership restrictions and the review poses an early test of the new prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s relationship with his Coalition partners.
Commonwealth and state ministers and attorney generals will consider the review’s findings in November and make recommendations to the prime minister and premiers before a council of Australian governments meeting early next year.Commonwealth and state ministers and attorney generals will consider the review’s findings in November and make recommendations to the prime minister and premiers before a council of Australian governments meeting early next year.