Shooters Union calls for Supressor Legislation following Bruce Highway closure “Over-reaction”

One of the country’s peak shooting representative groups has called Friday’s closure of the Bruce Highway near Gympie due to reports of gunshots nearby “an over-reaction” and says it’s time for a serious discussion about legalising firearm noise suppressors in Queensland. An emergency declaration was put into effect near Gympie on May 9 following reports of gunshots near the Bruce Highway – later confirmed to be from shooters on a nearby property engaging in lawful target shooting activities. Shooters Union Australia president Graham Park said the Police response to the issue seemed excessive and out of proportion to the issue. “Police closed the highway in both directions for two hours, had the army using their vehicles to block the road, and were running around in full tactical gear, all because some licensed shooters were legally shooting within hearing distance of the road,” he said. “While we appreciate Queensland Police Service’s work in keeping the community safe, their reaction here seems like an over-reaction – it’s not like someone was running down the highway with a machine-gun firing at vehicles, or drivers reporting bullet holes in their vehicles. “The Police response to Friday’s incident would be totally understandable if there was an actual threat – and it would have been very obvious if that was the case – but instead it comes across as alarmist.” Mr Park said the situation was a perfect illustration of why the shooting industry was calling for firearm suppressors to be legalised in Queensland. Currently, the devices are considered Category R Weapons – the same as artillery and rocket launchers – and almost completely prohibited for civilian ownership or use. “Shooters want suppressors legalised to avoid issues with hearing damage, allow more humane control of feral animals, and avoid issues like what we had in Gympie on Friday,” he said. “There’s no suggestion at this stage the shooters were doing anything illegal or unsafe, and if sound suppressors were legal, then this whole situation could have been avoided. “In many countries, using a suppressor while hunting or shooting in semi-rural areas is not only legal, but actively encouraged as good etiquette to avoid unnecessarily alarming people who might be in the area. “In this case, target shooters could have enjoyed practicing peacefully on private property, motorists nearby would not have been worried by gunshots, traffic would not have been blocked, and police would not have had to spent several hours of their Friday afternoon responding to a non-incident.” ENDS Media contact: Media@shootersunion.com.au