Police Minister Mark Mitchell has faced scrutiny over his role in loosening gun club regulations, despite receiving warnings from police about gang members training at gun ranges. In a surprise move, the Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges, and Other Matters) Amendment Bill includes new provisions that allow non-pistol shooting ranges to be inspected only when the range operator is applying for their initial enrolment, and then once every five years.

Understanding The Main Concept

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The bill marks a significant shift from the current regime, which allows inspections at any time as long as the operators are given seven days’ notice. This change has raised concerns among Labour and opposition parties, who argue that it could allow gang members to continue using shooting ranges without proper oversight.

Key Provisions of the Bill

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• Non-pistol shooting ranges can only be inspected when the range operator is applying for their initial enrolment, and then once every five years.
• Pistol shooting ranges are still subject to regular inspections, regardless of the operator’s notice period.
• The changes are part of a broader effort to simplify gun club regulations and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

How This Works In Practice

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Under the new provisions, police will no longer be able to conduct surprise inspections at non-pistol shooting ranges. Instead, they will only be notified when an application is submitted for an initial enrolment or inspection. This could allow gang members to continue using these ranges without being detected, which has raised concerns among law enforcement officials.

Gang Member Training Concerns

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Labour’s police spokesperson Ginny Andersen questioned Mitchell in Parliament about his commitment to tackling gun-related crime and whether he was concerned about the Police Association publicly stating that they were aware of gang members using shooting ranges. The association’s president Chris Cahill told a select committee last week that the issue had been disclosed during consultation on current regulations.

Evidence of Gang Member Training

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A memo provided to Mitchell on April 30 highlighted the need for police to continue inspecting ranges on a frequent basis, citing concerns about gang members using shooting clubs and ranges to develop their skills with firearms. The memo did not include confirmation that Mitchell had seen it.

Another Official Information Act response showed that Mitchell was provided with another warning from police about the risks of reducing inspections, but he had not taken action to address the issue. This included reference to two operations being actively investigated, which highlighted the risk of gangs and organized criminal groups using shooting clubs and ranges to develop their skills with firearms.

Why This Matters

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The changes to gun club regulations have significant implications for public safety and law enforcement efforts. If gang members are allowed to use shooting ranges without proper oversight, it could lead to an increase in gun-related crime and violence. The police minister’s handling of the issue has raised concerns about his commitment to tackling this problem.

Response from Police Minister Mitchell

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When questioned by Andersen in Parliament, Mitchell responded that he had not seen any warnings from police about gang members training at gun ranges when he agreed to changes loosening gun club regulations. He said that his response was based on the information he had at the time and that it was “very simple.”

However, this explanation has been met with skepticism by opposition parties, who argue that Mitchell should have taken more action to address concerns about gang member training at gun ranges.

Implications for Gun Control

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The changes to gun club regulations are part of a broader effort to simplify firearms laws and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. However, the decision to cut inspections has raised concerns among law enforcement officials and opposition parties, who argue that it could lead to an increase in gun-related crime and violence.

Conclusion

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The police minister’s handling of the issue has raised significant concerns about his commitment to tackling gun-related crime and public safety. The changes to gun club regulations have far-reaching implications for law enforcement efforts and public safety, and opposition parties will be watching closely as the bill makes its way through the parliamentary process.

Recommendations

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• The police minister should reconsider the changes to gun club regulations and ensure that inspections continue to be conducted regularly.
• Law enforcement officials should work closely with opposition parties to develop a comprehensive strategy for tackling gun-related crime and public safety.
• The government should consider implementing additional measures to prevent gang members from using shooting clubs and ranges, such as increased surveillance and monitoring.