Calls for probe into of gun licensing after Wieambilla shooting horror

A police union boss has called for more scrutiny on guns in Australia after a tragic shooting that killed six people including two officers.

Australia’s weapons licensing system needs to be reviewed, according to the Queensland Police Union chief, after two police officers and an innocent bystander were shot dead.

The officers, Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold, and a member of the public, Alan Dare, were murdered by three ”remorseless, ruthless” gunmen.

It’s still unknown how the group, brothers Nathaniel and Gavin Train, as well as Stacey Train, got hold of the “considerable weaponry” to carry out the attack on four young police officers, of which two escaped with their lives.

Constable Rachel McCrow. Constable Rachel McCrow was shot at close range by camoflauge-clad gunmen, during a missing person’s checkPicture: Supplied

Constable Matthew Arnold, 29, also lost his life in the horrific attack. Picture: Facebook

Head of QPU Ian Leavers has said that there needs to be an examination of how guns and other weapons are licensed after the event.

“Weapons are not an issue in the right hands but you need to look at the weapons licensing system, the national database,” Mr Leavers said.

“Can that be better, should it be better where people move from state to state?”

At the centre of the ambush attack is former school principal Nathaniel Train, who had relocated from NSW to Queensland before the attack.

Gun protocols such as the national data base need to be reviewed according to Queensland Police Union head Ian Leavers.

An aerial view of the scene at a property in Wieambilla. Source: Nine

Mr Leavers singled out the movement of people between states as a potential weak link in the system, saying that there should be “uniformity right across the board”.

“And if things can be done better, all states need to work together so we have the best system available, so we have the best intelligence to keep the community of Queensland and the rest of the community safe,” he said.

He said that an examination of the system that keeps track of firearms and weapons in Australia will be looked at as officers look into the incident.

An investigation into the horror ambush could take months according to Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll. Picture David Clark NCA/Newswire

“Where firearms fall into the wrong hands, that’s when we should be concerned and that will form part of the investigation,” he said.

“And if things can be done better all states need to work together so we have the best system available, so we have the best intelligence to keep the community of Queensland and the rest of the community safe.

The four officers, including Constable Randall Kirk and Constable Keely Brough who barely escaped with their lives, had been undertaking a routine stop while investigating a missing person’s report into Nathaniel Train.

A vigil for Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow is bein gorganised with their families but memorials have been held in other parts of the country. Picture: Evan Morgan

The group had driven out to Gavin Train’s property in Wieambilla and honked the horn to alert the residents of their presence before jumping a fence to enter the property.

Seconds later, they were met with a hail of gunfire that killed Constable McCrow and Constable Arnold.

Mr Leavers flagged concerns for police officers who needed to be kept safe while “doing their job”.

“Because these tragedies should not take place,” he said.

“We are not used to seeing this in Australia. This is what we hear about in countries like the United States and we need to be very careful. But we need to analyse that and that will be done in-depth.”