Activists have sports shooting on school grounds in their sights
Gun control activists are targeting two elite Sydney private schools, demanding they abandon shooting sports and remove all weapons from their grounds for the safety of their students and staff.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Howard warns gun laws are at risk
- Ardern’s gun control plan in 10 days
- Why the world is talking about Australia over gun control
Gun control activists have got two elite Sydney private schools in their sights, demanding they abandon shooting sports and remove all weapons from school grounds.
Lobby group Gun Control Australia (GCA) has written to the NSW government calling for new laws to ban firearm events in schools.
Newington College in Sydney’s inner west and The King’s School in Sydney’s the northwest have small bore rifle ranges on school property and allow students to fire the weapons on the ranges and at sanctioned events.
GCA president Piers Grove said loaded firearms and shooting ranges on campuses were an unnecessary risk for students and teachers.
“We need to be consistent — guns don’t belong in schools,” he said.
“Schools are meant to be a really safe place where students can learn and feel safe. This completely erodes those principles. Anytime you have loaded firearms around, you’re opening yourself up to risks.”
Mr Grove said changing legislation would “bring schools in line with community expectation” and has written to NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell to press his concerns.
“We’re not opposed to shooting as a sport for students, we’re just opposed to shooting taking place on campus.
“America has demonstrated the risks of having guns anywhere near a school population — we can’t expose our students to the same risks.”
A spokesman for the minister’s office told The Telegraph Ms Mitchell did not regulate extra-curricular activities at independent schools.
A Newington College spokeswoman declined to answer questions about whether guns were left on school property and what health and safety measures were in place for students using guns.
A King’s School College spokesman said it would also not reveal if guns were stored on school property, citing security and licensing concerns.
“The safety of staff and students is our highest priority in all school activities,” the spokesman said.
“The school maintains permits, licences and has policies and procedures ensuring that the sport is managed in line with the Firearms Act 1996 and the Firearms Regulation 1997.”
Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW) chief executive Dr Geoff Newcombe said its members had a right to offer sports shooting.
“Independent schools are autonomous and therefore able to offer students a wide range of sporting and recreational activities appropriate to their context,” he said.
“AISNSW supports the right of all schools to provide activities that are supported by their school communities and conducted safely and legally.”
Originally published as Activists have sports shooting on school grounds in their sights