AS well as calling for greater penalties to deter gun thefts, the union representing thousands of legitimate firearms users across Queensland wants the state government to address inconsistencies with its licensing approval system.
It says the current method is "convoluted" and is costing rural Queensland thousands of dollars in crops lost to feral animals while caught up in red tape.
"We get at least a call a week on this issue," Shooters Union Queensland president Graham Park said.
He said he believed the delays up to 14 months for simple licence renewals are not due to safety concerns but inefficiencies with the current licensing system.
"We understand there is a process that needs to be followed to obtain a firearms licence and believe the Queensland Police weapons licencing branch plays an important role in the safe use of firearms ... but we would like to see a reduction in red tape."
More than paperwork headaches, the delays were causing job losses and destroyed crops, Mr Park said.
"Some bosses are saying they're not sure how long they can keep someone on without the licence needed for their work."
In one case, farmhand Clinton Adams endured 10 months of waiting to obtain category A, B, C and D licences to use the firearms on the properties of his employer, Hugh Rea.
Mr Rea's country covers 25,000 acres around Dingo in central Queensland and is split by a public road, which meant police could not ensure Clinton would be covered by Mr Rea's Primary Production licence while travelling on public roads.
"It's our priority to ensure Clinton is undertaking his job in a safe and legal manner," Mr Rea said.
"We believed the best option was for him to obtain his own licence to undertake his duties, which includes feral pest management on our land.
"We went through all the steps in the process. What followed was 10 months of constant chasing."
He said he could not understand how a person could get a firearms licence in weeks to go to a gun club and shoot targets but rural people in genuine need could wait months.
Mr Park said people now lived in an age where licences were needed for everything and it was a process they were used to.
"You do a driver's test, you pass and you get a licence. The population at large wouldn't stand for a situation where they had to wait months.
"It's affecting rural people's livelihoods."
He said the main delays seemed to be occurring with category C, D and H class weapons, semi-automatics and handguns.
"There's no reason we can identify for these delays, and members are getting very frustrated."
Shooters Union’s call: Steal a gun and face jail
IF you steal a television set, all you’re going to be able to do with it is watch your favourite show or sell it at the pub for a few dollars.
On the other hand, if you steal a firearm, you’ve got a lethal weapon. In Queensland, the same penalty applies for the theft of either item.
The Shooters Union describes the anomaly as “ridiculous”.
The union’s Queensland president Graham Park said the community expected sensible gun legislation and would be surprised at the gap between the seriousness of the offence and the penalty.
“There are very strict regulations surrounding the licensing, ownership and storage of firearms for legitimate, legal firearm owners, but not enough focus is placed on punishing criminals who use firearms,” he said. “Gun owners will be harassed mercilessly about whether they had their guns stored properly when they’re stolen, and they’re required to spend thousands on safety.
“When you have a situation where a gun’s stolen, there’s a tendency on the police to blame the licensed owner. Let’s blame the criminal instead.”
Mr Park said his union was calling for a specific offence for stealing a firearm and to impose harsher sentences that would “deter criminals more than just a slap on the wrist”.
He said police had privately offered their support for such a move. “Research has shown the vast majority of guns making their way to criminals are through illegal importing,” Mr Park said.
“This move would clamp down on people targeting gun owners and free up police resources to focus on those illegal imports. We think a mandatory prison sentence or a huge fine will make people think again.
“It’s very simple for the government. It won’t cost them anything and the person will already have been convicted of a crime.”
The responsibility for criminal codes lies with Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, who had little to say to Queensland Country Life on the subject.
According to a spokesman, all Ms D’ath was prepared to say was that criminals caught in possession of any firearm, stolen or otherwise, were liable for prosecution under the Weapons Act. “It contains multiple provisions that cover criminals who possess, sell or use firearms.”
ISSUE OF CONCERN
AgForce is not saying whether it agrees with the call for stiffer penalties, just that members have raised the issue.
“Our position is that the Ministerial Weapons Advisory Council needs to meet to look at these issues and come up with sensible solutions,” a spokesman said. The council has yet to meet under the current government.