Good afternoon,

For your information and the information of your customers and clients,  Weapons Licensing has released an Information Sheet to for applicants to consider, when applying for, or to renew a concealable Occupational or Primary Producers Licence (Cat H).

The Information Sheet can be found on the front page of our website at the following link:

https://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/weaponslicensing/

If you could distribute this amongst your networks it would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Adam Guild

Inspector
Manager Weapons Licensing
Specialist Services Group
Operations Support Command (OSC)
Queensland Police Service

Important Information when applying for or to renew a concealable firearms Occupational or Primary Producers Licence (Cat H)

Please read thisCat H Information Sheet.pdf to assist you in understanding how an Authorised Officer assesses the information you provide in your application. (This information should not be construed as legal advice)

Customer Telephone Enquiries Hours from Monday, 16th April 2018

Weapons Licensing will be available for telephone enquiries on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between the hours of 9am and 4pm.
Contact 07 3015 7777

On Wednesdays, our priority will be the actioning of our clients’ requests to enhance customer service.

Shooters Union play a pivotal role as weapons licensing revoke barrel length requirements for Cat H Club Letters.

Shooters Union have again proved their ever growing ability to effect change over the last few months as discussions over barrel length requirements for Cat H Club Letters have taken place. Queensland Weapons licensing (QWL) have revoked the recently applied requirements for shooting clubs to supply a barrel length when supplying a club letter for category H weapons. The change was a result of lengthy discussions between QWL and Shooters Union Queensland. The fundamental argument being that such information is actually not required according to the legislation and would be pointless to QWL as Cat H barrel lengths are already known during initial registration. Such practices only make the task risky for clubs in terms of liability if something was in error.

Shooters Union applaud the change carried out. However, after small wins like this SU believes it is of the utmost importance that we do not become complacent in our pursuit for common sense gun laws in Australia, there is still a long way to go. Either way it is a lesson for us all in knowing that with the numbers and whilst utilising the political presence of SU we can all make change here in Australia.

Applicants for CAT H PTA’s should note however the online form has a mandatory field for barrel length, errors here will delay issue of the PTA.

Yesterday we lost our minds when George Christensen uploaded a questionable image to Facebook. While it was a silly thing to do, our reaction didn’t fit.

You have to hand it to “colourful” Queensland MPs. They have a remarkable knack for self-promotion by manipulating the Twitterati into manufactured outrage, as the outcry over George Christensen’s gun-toting Facebook photos proves.

Christensen has been accused, firstly, of inciting violence towards anti-mining protesters. Despite the political dimensions of this accusation, it should still be considered seriously. Regardless of people’s opinions about a certain classic Clint Eastwood line and Christensen’s taste in using it, a rather unoriginally-captioned photo of him with a gun does not necessarily equate to encouraging violence. Legally, “inciting violence” essentially rests on whether a person has urged others to commit a crime with the intent that they should do so. At face value, it seems a stretch to make out that George Christensen has done this.

Nor should we assume he “gives licence” to violence. Even if the imagery is construed as “violent”, relationships between what people see and how that may affect their own behaviours are extremely complex. These questions have been studied for years in relation to violent movies and video games, with the answers varying substantially depending on the group being studied, the intensity of exposure, and a wide range of other situational and personal characteristics.

Viewed rationally, the situation boils down to transparent posturing. A Nationals MP baits greenies to boost his anti-political-correctness credentials, a political aspirant protester recycles a tried and true tactic to generate attention and sympathy for his cause, the Greens hijack the victim card to score free publicity, and assorted pundits piggyback off the whole thing.

This begs the question: why has slow-news-day fodder escalated into hysteria? To understand this, we need to look at the second thing Christensen is accused of. Apparently, he has committed a social transgression: acting insensitively by posting photos of himself holding firearms, in the wake of the latest school shooting in the US. Cue po-faced tut-tutting.

George Christensen is not the first to run afoul of this censorious attitude. It has become standard.

Yes, this in part reflects the all too common occurrence of firearm violence in the US. But the clichéd script also reveals much about Australia’s reactive political discourse and the lazy journalism that sustains it.

Rather than intelligent, proportional and considered responses that reflect individual circumstances, Australians instantly link anything to do with guns here with acts of horrific violence in a completely different country. This is a very specific reaction. We only do it with guns and the US.

It is true that we have some things in common with the US when it comes to firearms. Most firearm-related deaths in both countries are suicides, mainly by older white males. Homicides committed using a firearm tend to occur between younger men who know each other, often come from socially disadvantaged and/or minority backgrounds, and typically have a range of risk factors for both perpetrating, and being a victim of, violence – such as involvement with other criminal activities. Along with many other developed nations, both countries have experienced long-term declines in firearm homicides over the past few decades. After this, the resemblance ends.

So whenever guns come up, why do Australian commentators refer instantly to mass shootings in the US, regardless of context, relevance, or logic? Most likely, we do it simply because we have been conditioned that this is how we should react. Just as Pavlov’s dog eventually salivated at the sound of a ringing bell, we now see a photo of a gun and obediently recite “US gun laws bad. Australian gun laws good.”

This may seem harmless enough, but our determination to cling to these trite scripts and conditioned responses, in fact, reveals a longstanding cultural insecurity. We are utterly desperate to see ourselves as international leaders rather than a bunch of convicts whose opinions are of little interest to the wider world. Grasping at anything we think makes us better or more virtuous than a superpower helps bolster our own sense of importance.

Yet even though politicians like to insist our firearm laws are the “envy of the world,” the reality is that no other country has seen a need to follow our approach despite having more than two decades to do so. Hardly a glowing endorsement.

We might be able to blame the NRA for the US situation, but this does not explain why nobody else is in a hurry to copy us. Instead, a number of countries have turned their efforts to developing and implementing a broad-reaching range of evidence-based measures to reduce violence and address its underlying contributors. Maybe they know something that we cannot hear over the ringing bell.

Seen in this light, our elected representatives’ rote recitals about US mass shootings start to look like nothing more than a platform for their own desire to achieve relevance on the international stage. And at a time when traditional political brands are struggling to recapture increasingly fragmented voting blocs whose identities are based not on what they stand for but by who they rally against as their “enemies”, it also helps to have a “go-to” villain up your sleeve to disguise your lack of real ideas.

So by all means, let us criticise George Christensen for poor taste or insensitivity or just plain stupidity. Let us call out behaviours that legitimately encourage violence. But let us do it with critical thought and reflection, rather than behaving like salivating dogs.

Recently Police Minister Mark Ryan uploaded onto his Facebook page, a heavily edited version of a video that I moderated in March last year. The edited video is a clear attempt at scare-mongering and playing politics with Tim Mander. In his comments that accompany the video, he manages to denigrate all Queensland licensed shooters, as well as a decent politician whose only mistake in the ALP’s eyes seems to be listening to the public.

From our perspective, it is refreshing to hear that Tim Mander has an “open mind” and is “all about good rational argument.” He is open to a discussion based on facts and evidence rather than what Minister Ryan is doing with emotional vitriol. Tim even admits there are issues he is not fully across, and providing there is “no increase in safety risks or some other risk to the community” why should a simple discussion not occur.

As an ALP politician, true to form, Ryan then twists Mander’s statements into “he wants to weaken gun laws.” As Tim Mander rightly replied, “absolute rubbish!” Weaken gun laws! How about we discuss all the weak laws that are letting criminals walk away from serving serious time for violence-related offenses?

And why does Ryan insist on comparing us with the United States, why not New Zealand, Switzerland, or Canada. Not enough sensationalism there. The problem in America is the same one
on which he and his troops should be concentrating; getting firearms out of the hands of criminals.

Law abiding licensed gun owners are not the problem in the US and they are not the problem here.

The criminals are. Get it right Mr Ryan.

Times have changed since Howard’s Gun laws. All licensed gun owners now have to pass stringent police checks and safety courses. They also have to have their firearms stored and temporarily
inoperable in safes which are inspected by the police. Police have to assess a shooter’s reason to have a firearm and have placed restrictions on their use. There is no open slather.

Mr. Ryan would be far better employed getting guns off criminals, rather than trying to criminalise law-abiding citizens, and as for Jackie Trad getting involved in the Facebook discussion, she would do much better concentrating on her own shambolic portfolio instead of trying to placate her electorate’s Greens with rubbish like this.

Finally we would like to thank all the Law Abiding Shooters who have flooded the Facebook pages of both Mr Ryan and Mrs Trad with comments. Please keep it up and let your voice be heard.

Let them know you expect them to focus on issues that affect us here in Queensland and that we will no longer tolerate emotional fear-mongering.

David Brown & Graham Park
Shooters Union Queensland

One Nation has announced their intentions to push for a NSW style (R-Licence) for QLD. The proposed arrangements would allow shooters in Queensland the ability to hunt game and feral animals on public lands. This news is welcomed by the Shooters Union and by all firearms and hunting enthusiasts alike.

The policy has been developed and promoted by Jim Savage, a One Nation candidate standing in the Lockyer electorate. The changes would greatly assist those with limited options or who need to travel long distances in order to enjoy their hobby.

This option has been available in NSW for many years. The implementation of such a licencing arrangement would mean that accreditation could be sought through the DPI and would facilitate access to public land. It has had great success in NSW by giving shooters the opportunity to assist in feral animal eradication, which in turn maintains the natural ecosystem of these environments.

Shooters Union applauds the initiative shown in the promotion of this policy and urge those of like mind to support the proposed changes.

See full policy announcement below.

R LICENCE –  PUBLIC LAND HUNTING              4/11/17

ONE NATION WILL ALLOW LAW ABIDING HUNTERS TO HUNT FERAL PESTS ON PUBLIC LAND

We will legislate to allow public land hunting with a licencing system to ensure safe public access and use of state forests.

One Nation supports a Queensland version of the successful NSW “R” licence, which regulates hunting in state forests. We recognise as a matter of principal that Queensland public land is a shared resource, for all Queenslanders. NSW, Victoria, Northern Territory and Tasmania allow the hunting of feral pests in state forests, as in most other countries. This saves the taxpayer an enormous amount of money which otherwise the government would have to spend controlling feral pests, as is their legal obligation as a “landowner”.

A cost benefit analysis conducted by the NSW government in 2017 showed a net benefit to NSW of $119 million a year and 860 jobs supported from public land hunting. In Victoria the figure is $439 million and 2,380 jobs supported. A significant proportion of this money comes from Queensland hunters who at present cannot hunt in Queensland. The NSW government makes money and at the same time saves taxpayers money by having someone else do their work for them. Win win!

One Nation believes that the NSW R Licence system is the best system to ensure safe hunting, with no safety incidents reported in over 16 years of operation. Hunters are required to undertake training in ethics, education and animal welfare, and hunter numbers are limited to one per 400 hectares (1000 acres) with hunting at night and from vehicles banned.

One Nation does not believe Qld. should miss out by not having legalised public land hunting.

Hunters from Qld regularly travel interstate to hunt deer and other pest animals in state forests, while taxpayers in Qld pay the government to shoot feral pests in our state forests. This is just plain silly.

One Nation supports introducing R Licences in Qld and finally join the rest of the country. It is time we managed our resources properly and controlled feral pests which results in better outcomes for native Australian animals. Money raised from R Licences can be funnelled back into environmental projects. Currently an R Licence in NSW costs $75.

One Nation suggests that hunters could voluntarily provide those in genuine need and financial hardship with free meat (ie. venison) if possible and practical to do so. Food banks could be established, as has been done in the United States and Canada, with hunters sharing game meat as a community service. Of course this would be purely voluntary and self administered. This would reduce the complete waste of meat which currently occurs as a result of aerial culling operations on Qld public land by state government agencies. Currently hundreds of animals such as deer being wastefully left to rot. Rather than hunters in Brisbane heading south to hunt in NSW and Victoria (and paying for the privilege) wouldn’t it be better if they headed north and spent their money in Qld? Hunters who currently do not have access to hunting on private property would have access to hunting land (state forests) and provide cash to regional areas.

R Licences will provide an economic and environmental benefit to regional Qld and give recreational hunters an opportunity to hunt in their own state.

The council will pay $10 for an adult cat’s scalp and $5 for a kitten.

The bounty is designed to stop the growing population of feral cats in rural areas of the central Queensland shire, where they are having a devastating effect on the native bird and mammal populations, The Morning Bulletin reports.

The council has allocated $25,000 in its Land Protection budget to cover the cost of the bounty and will continue the program until this funding is exhausted.

Environment and planning manager Chris Welch said a similar program recently introduced in the McKinlay Shire had a significant impact on the feral cat population.

“An increase in feral cat numbers has been observed, particularly though the rural areas of the shire, and council has received information from the Upper Dawson branch of the Queensland Wildlife Preservation Society raising the issue of impacts from feral and uncontrolled cats,” he said.

Mr Welch said the bounty would be restricted to feral animals destroyed on rural properties.

He said a property owner didn’t need to be the party destroying the animal and requesting payment, but must sign the payment request form giving a hunter permission to be on their property.

A recent study carried out by the Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environmental Science Program found feral cats kill 316 million birds every year, while pet cats kill 61 million birds.

Lead researcher Professor John Woinarski said everybody knew cats killed birds, but this study showed the amount of predation was staggering at a national level.

“We found that the birds most likely to be killed by cats are medium-sized birds; birds that nest and feed on the ground, and birds that occur on islands or in woodlands, grassland and shrub lands,” he said.

“For Australian birds, cats are a longstanding, broadscale and deeply entrenched problem that needs to be tackled more effectively.

“Our knowledge of the impacts of cats on threatened mammals was a major stimulus for our first-ever national Threatened Species Strategy, which prioritised actions to control feral cats.”

Calling all Keyboard Warriors

As you know our beloved sport is under attack from city-dwelling politicians who specialise in knee-jerk politics designed to win the popular vote.

Just recently we’ve seen a total backflip from the LNP regarding the re-classification of the Adler shotgun due, we believe to a totally unrelated crime that occurred in the United States, which involved unrelated weaponry in the hands on an unstable individual.

This is why I’m writing to you.

We need to change popular opinion, and I know it’s a big ask.

But the first step is to get more gun-friendly politicians in the “big house.”  We need Politicians who:

• understand that punishing law abiding gun owners will not stop terrorist attacks.
• understand that reclassifying guns will not stop criminals from using them.
• will vocally protect our right to compete, enjoy and practice our sport.
• aren’t afraid to face the reality, that sometimes farmers need to use guns to do their job.

Luckily for you, as a Lockyer local, you’re in the prime electorate to help all your fellow gun owners.

Your local One Nation Party representative, Jim Savage, is the kind of politician we need in Queensland Parliament. Jim will be standing beside the likes of Steve Dickson and Robbie Katter who are desperately trying to disrupt the status-quo and keep the rights of firearm owners in the news, on the agenda and moving forward.

Jim needs your help, and he needs it now.

Along with your vote on election day, we need to inundate the local newspapers, such as the Gatton Star and Queensland Times, with Letters to the Editor regarding the rights of gun owners and the reasons behind our utter dismay at the lack of consultation/representation and respect.

Basically, we need letters that will forward our agenda and get people talking.

Will you help us?

BREAKING NEWS:

The Palaszczuk Government to move on high-capacity shotguns following Los Vegas Shooting.

In news just in, Shooters Union have been advised that the current Queensland Labor government wants to silence the voice of thousands of sporting shooters, hunters and farmers by moving lever action shotguns to a restrictive Category D. This opportunistic political posturing by Labor in wake of the recent tragic event in Las Vegas is a disgrace. Law abiding firearm owners are constantly being targeted by Labor and your voice is needed to fight back.

Here’s a link to the ABC news coverage of the media release: https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-10/lever-action-shotguns-reclassified-qld-from-2018/9032172?pfmredir=sm&WT.ac=statenews_qld

See the video above for Shooters Union Vice President, David Brown’s response and clarification of the new amendments.

What can I do?

Email the Premier of Queensland
Contact the Premier and Labor members and let them know your thoughts.
Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk – Phone: (07) 3719 7000 / Email: Premier HERE
Download full list of contacts HERE

Email the Leader of the Opposition
Contact the Leader of the Opposition and let them know you oppose Labor’s ban.
Hon Tim Nicholls – Phone: (07) 3838 6767 / Email: Hon Tim Nicholls HERE
Download full list of contacts HERE

Email Katter’s Australian Party 
Katter’s Australian Party Party has vowed to move a disallowance motion in the parliament to overturn these bans. Send them a note of support.
Hon Robbie Katter – Phone: (07) 4410 4100 / Email: Hon Robbie Katter HERE
Download full list of contacts HERE

Steve Dickson from Member for Buderim, and One Nation Party member, responds to Robbie Katter’s  Private Members Motion in Queensland Parliament that aims to safeguard the rights of farmers to own Category H firearms.