Range Closures in Western Australia

[majaci@bigpond.com]

Recently in WA, two rifle ranges have been closed down by WAPOL due to 'concerns' around safety templates, without any incidents whatsoever. One is a SSAA and another one a WARA operated range. A number of other WARA ranges in WA are currently being 'assessed ' for compliance with newly developed 'safety requirements'.
There is a message in all of this for all other states, particularly in relation to where your votes will go in your local state elections.
If you think this is only a WA police initiative, think again.

Many people believe that firearm law changes are ok for as long as our dedicated associations are left alone. This is clearly incorrect, we all have some thought times ahead and NRAA associations will not be left alone or spared in any way, it is just a matter of timing. The long term strategy is to diminish firearm ownership in Australia, push as many remaining owners in rifle clubs and than wind that down to an absolute minimum.

The sooner our associations understand this and get united the better.

[Brad]

Assessed as not being safe by the same organisation that publicly broadcast the firing of a 50 cal without consideration of the adequate safety measures! You get what you vote for. The good news is the state election is not far off, the bad news is the damage is probably already done!

[shadow]

When they close all the ranges accessible to the public, then there is no excuse to own a firearm.
This was documented somewhere else, carnt remember where,, troubling times for our sport

[Rich4]

Just reduce participation till there is no familiarity among the public and small enough numbers to not object to banning, seems to be the MO

[jasmay]

Unfortunately, I also feel (I may be wrong) that we have governing bodies that are scared or at least unwilling to either get political, or, at least make public statements that support the future of our sport and condemn poorly made decisions like these range closures.

[majaci@bigpond.com]

They think that laying low and being subservient will somehow transpire in police and politicians leaving lour sport alone. This was the strategy in the past. A catastrophic lack of vision and understanding of the political landscape regarding this issue.

[PeteFox]

Recently in WA, two rifle ranges have been closed down by WAPOL due to 'concerns' around safety templates, without any incidents whatsoever. One is a SSAA and another one a WARA operated range. A number of other WARA ranges in WA are currently being 'assessed ' for compliance with newly developed 'safety requirements'.
.

Well that's so surprising, a range gets closed because it doesn't meet the (new) safety template or other conditions, and some others are being assessed. Well bugger me, to think that someone raises the bar on safety. It will be a disaster! Rifle clubs will close.

I heard the same stuiff when the NRAA introduced the blue chamber flags, and some ranges introduced energy limits. It will be the end of all things.

NO! what will end all things is a someone actually getting shot. So in my book if it improves safety it's a good thing.

You have alluded to some sort of nefarious agenda in all this without actually providing any evidence. The best course of action in these sorts of things is to ask "what are your issues and what can we do to to satisfy your safety concerns" before announcing Armageddon and then, work through the issues. Head butting the police is a no-win course of action.
Perhaps reduce your safety template through a change in range design?
That's two wins, the police are happy and you get to keep the range open.
Pete

and a footnote: we've already had some AI bot on this forum in what I think was an information gathering exercise to use against us. Complaining on a public forum about increasing the safety on rifle ranges just feeds the anti-gun lobby.

[disb]

Dear Firearms Licence Holder,

I wish to inform you about recent legislative changes in the new Firearms Act 2024 that may impact your ability to maintain a firearm licence.

There have been significant changes to Written Authorities and Firearm Numerical Limits. Please review these changes to understand their potential impact on your circumstance.

For Individual Firearm Licences, there are two types of Written Authorities:

A Written Authority for a specific property (formerly a property letter), is an authorisation by a registered landholder to allow you to use your firearm on their property and;
A Written Authority from a club (formerly club support letter), is an authorisation by a club to support your competitive use of your firearm at licensed ranges.
New rules will be introduced for registering properties that grant authorisations, specifically the number and types of firearms permitted on each property. Property Owners will not be able to issue Written Authorities for financial gain and the number of available Written Authorities will be finite.

All properties must be registered (using the Landgate ID) and will be assessed for size, location, and feral pest issues;
The WA Police Force will apply the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) pest density distribution reports and the humane destruction guidelines when determining the maximum permitted calibre and number of Written Authorities;
All properties where shooting activities (hunting) are to take place must be approved by the WA Police Force;
This will be standardised across the State; and
Property owners may decide not to register their properties to issue Written Authorities under the new laws.
All current property and club support letters will become redundant; however, these changes will not take effect until early 2025 and it is not possible to obtain a new Written Authority until that time. When these new provisions come into effect Licensing Services will contact you prior to your renewal date to seek a new Written Authority to support the renewal of your licence. In the interim, you will automatically be issued a Transitional Licence allowing some time for these requirements to be met.

In addition, Firearm Numerical Limits have been introduced which will apply to Firearm Licence Holders. If you possess quantities of firearms that exceed the regulated allowable number, you will be required to lawfully dispose of those firearms.

As part of the Firearms Act Reform, the Western Australia Government is offering a voluntary buyback scheme to compensate firearm holders who wish to surrender their firearms. Please be reminded the buyback scheme is only available until the 31 August 2024.

Should you have any questions regarding this matter, further information can be found on the following websites:

WA Police Forces website: Firearms-Act-Reform

Legislation WA website: Firearms Act 2024

Yours sincerely,

DIVISIONAL SUPERINTENDENT
FIREARM REFORM DIVISION
10 August 2024

[Rich4]

I think the questions to be asked is, Will this make anyone safer or prevent an unwanted occurrence?
Or will it merely serve to frustrate current holders and discourage new applicants?
And I’m pretty sure that’s never considered!
I hold multiple categories and when my Daughter upgraded to Adult she was informed there was only room for one, although she was complimented on the thoroughness of her application, pigeonholing everybody with a view to then changing the goalposts I feel.
It seems common for ranges to have estates built around them and then shutdown due to noise complaints, perhaps rather than change the template the planning process may need work, however it can be a touch unfair to rely upon someone else to carry the safety zone for a club without some redress.

[majaci@bigpond.com]

Recently in WA, two rifle ranges have been closed down by WAPOL due to 'concerns' around safety templates, without any incidents whatsoever. One is a SSAA and another one a WARA operated range. A number of other WARA ranges in WA are currently being 'assessed ' for compliance with newly developed 'safety requirements'.
.

Well that's so surprising, a range gets closed because it doesn't meet the (new) safety template or other conditions, and some others are being assessed. Well bugger me, to think that someone raises the bar on safety. It will be a disaster! Rifle clubs will close.

I heard the same stuiff when the NRAA introduced the blue chamber flags, and some ranges introduced energy limits. It will be the end of all things.

NO! what will end all things is a someone actually getting shot. So in my book if it improves safety it's a good thing.

You have alluded to some sort of nefarious agenda in all this without actually providing any evidence. The best course of action in these sorts of things is to ask "what are your issues and what can we do to to satisfy your safety concerns" before announcing Armageddon and then, work through the issues. Head butting the police is a no-win course of action.
Perhaps reduce your safety template through a change in range design?
That's two wins, the police are happy and you get to keep the range open.
Pete

and a footnote: we've already had some AI bot on this forum in what I think was an information gathering exercise to use against us. Complaining on a public forum about increasing the safety on rifle ranges just feeds the anti-gun lobby.

You know what improves safety the most in the view or politicians and police? No guns and shut ranges.
This is precisely the backward thinking, head in the sand approach our associations have used in the past. What makes you believe there is a genuine safety concern to start with? Would it surprise you if I said the police does not need to have any reasoning to raise the bar under 'safety concerns' regardless whether it is real or not. There is no firm set of rules, it is up to the police opinion on the day. Their strategy is to invent them, make them complex and expensive and restrict the number of clubs in the long run. You want evidence? Have a good look around what is happening in WA and have a good think about it. You think you will keep socialist party in power and their police instrument happy with mere compliance and keeping quiet? This is exactly why we are where we are. Blind subservience and no initiative whatsoever to take a range of actions open to associations through state and federal government. Where is your evidence that blind compliance with ranges being shut down is the "best course of action"? Isn't it evident that this strategy has failed a long time ago? With this type of thinking we will eventually all be shooting air rifles in the new future, if we are lucky to have them.

[Barry Davies]

Precisely the reason the VRA walked out of Williamstown with nothing.

[majaci@bigpond.com]

Another range closed in WA, Kalamunda small bore Club.
Labour government in action.