- Cook Government’s multimillion-dollar firearms buyback scheme ends 31 August 2024
- Close to 20,000 guns removed from Western Australia so far
- Historic firearm reform elevates public safety above all other considerations and sees WA become the first state to limit the number of guns an individual can own
- New laws disarm serious offenders, introduce mandatory training and health checks, enhance monitoring and strengthen storage requirements
Gun owners have less than one month left to take part in Western Australia’s $64.3 million State Government-funded voluntary firearms buyback scheme, which offers licensed gun owners up to $1,000 to hand in their weapon at any WA Police station.
During the first five months of the program, 19,430 guns have already been removed from the community, including 1,852 handguns, 4,825 shotguns and 12,753 rifles.
New contemporary laws, which passed WA Parliament last month and come into effect in March, limit the number of guns an individual can own depending on their licence type. The nation-leading move will see primary producers and competition shooters restricted to a maximum of 10 firearms while recreational hunters can licence no more than five.
The complete rewrite of WA’s 50-year-old Firearms Act also strips guns from the hands of serious offenders such as family and domestic violence perpetrators through the introduction of Mandatory Disqualifying Offences and Orders (MDOs).
Other changes include enhanced storage requirements and regular health assessments for gun owners, mandatory firearms training for all licence applicants and an overhaul of the corrupted written authority or ‘property letter’ system giving landowners and lease holders control over who shoots on their property.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“Our safety-first approach to gun regulation is improving community safety throughout Western Australia.
“We have experienced the devastating result of gun crime in our community, highlighting the importance of my Government’s firearm reform.
“People who don’t have a legitimate need to own a gun, shouldn’t have access to one.
“Our tough new laws mean there are going to be less guns in our suburbs, less guns on our streets, less guns in the wrong hands.
“I’m proud to lead a government committed to improving safety for current and future generations of Western Australians.”
As stated by Police Minister Paul Papalia:
“The State Government is unapologetic about removing unnecessary firearms from the community in the interest of public safety.
“Our Firearms Actrewrite allowsWA Policetobetter manage and monitor gun use which will improve awareness and decision-making on the frontline.
“Many gun owners, particularly those who use a property letter as their only justification to have a firearms licence, may struggle to meet the new strict requirements.
“Now is the time to take advantage of the Government-funded buyback.
“Fewer firearms on the streets, means a safer WA today and for decades to come.”
