We must ensure the Abbott Government is properly supporting our law enforcement services with appropriate levels of resourcing and clear legislative backing so law enforcement agencies effectively enforce existing gun laws.
Criminals break laws. The need to protect the Australian people from crime, especially gun related crime and violence, is paramount and must be a priority for any government. The Abbott Government needs to recognise "security theatre", and a "get tough" approach may play well in the marginals, and it may get you points with the Daily Tele, but it does not progress the long term interests of our nation.
It is time for the Abbott Government to step up in the same way John Howard's Government stepped up. They promised to be a "grown up government" after all.
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It's time for our partisan politicians to give our law enforcers and security agencies the space they need, free of political interference and point scoring, so they may enforce the existing laws already put in place to respond to criminal activity, and detect and take out of circulation the illegal guns in this country.
Many Australians, particularly those working on the land, use firearms as tools of their trade and it is appropriate they continue to be able to do so.
It is also appropriate Australians living in our capital and regional cities and our towns - feel safe in the knowledge their Government is doing everything it can to protect them in their communities by permanently disqualifying unfit Australians from legally accessing firearms for any purpose.
It is time the Australian Government reviewed the National Firearms Agreement of 1996 and the National Handgun Agreement of 2002.
If people believe fewer guns on the streets make for a safer Australia they need to elect a Government who will advocate for the views of the Australian people in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.
At the next Federal Election the Australian people will judge Prime Minister Abbott and his Government on their actions now.
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As a member of the Australian Democrats I know there is a political Party who will always advocate for stronger gun control measures.
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