Readers react to Mirani MP Stephen Andrew’s call for ‘open mind’ to weapons licensing

‘What a stupid thing for anyone to say, especially on the 25th anniversary of the massacre in Tasmania.’

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Daily Mercury readers have had their say on Mirani MP Stephen Andrew's claims the current weapons licensing system is 'demonising' licensed firearm owners.

The One Nation MP called on the state government to have an 'open mind' in its approach, citing "more than 500 active cases in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal involving appeals against the Weapons Licensing Branch of Queensland Police Service".

In a question on notice in Queensland Parliament to Police Minister Mark Ryan, Mr Andrew said this compared to fewer than 120 cases for the whole of the preceding 11 years.

Mirani MP Stephen Andrew. Picture: Melanie Whiting

Here's what our readers said:

Lesley N Nye Keegan: What a stupid thing for anyone to say, especially on the 25th anniversary of the massacre in Tasmania. The changes made because of that massacre are amply sufficient. We must remember the 35 people killed and the many other injured on that day and not let the likes of Stephen Andrews allow changes that could see it happen again.

Benny Muscat: But this isn't an argument about watering the laws down or making it easier to access guns. It's about the fact that registered long term owners are being targeted for reasons that make no sense. People who have owned guns their entire lives are having their renewals rejected due to traffic infringements from 10+ years ago, or due to medical reasons that have no effect. I've had a friend who's owned firearms for 10 years who's had his renewal rejected due to sleep apnoea. It's ridiculous.

Sandy Gardner: What exactly is the issue? It is not difficult to get a gun licence … do the safety course, don't have a criminal record and have somewhere to shoot and somewhere safe to store weapon

Damian Eales: Most Australians don't own or want to own a gun, the others are quite happy with the current laws. They are responsible guns owners. What is your problem? Fix the roads.

Amos T Fairchild: I do not agree. Please move to the US.

Craig Day: Current licensing system is fair and robust. I been through it and learnt a lot. People in gun clubs are unbelievably safety focused and social. I never heard them complain about the system.

Mitchell Preece: How about fix the road in Marian before solving gun licensing problems.

Austin Pickering: No I don't agree. Firearms ownership is a privilege not a right and this is a country of law. If you want the privilege of firearms ownership and operation then you obey the appropriate laws and conditions of such. The balance of the privilege and the restrictions is about right at present.

Colin Kambouris: How exactly are law-abiding owners being demonised?

Steven Scriven: If you can absolutely justify your gun licence and gun … then you will not feel "demonised".

Tim Hughes: I think you anti-gun nuts need to do a lot of research before making blind comments like you're doing.

Originally published as Readers react to Mirani MP Stephen Andrew’s call for ‘open mind’ to weapons licensing