seb

Replica Firearms - Why the ban?


On Sunday the 28th of April 1996, a terrible tragedy shook the nation of
Australia. Martin Bryant, a madman residing in the state of Tasmania, went
on a killing spree with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle killing 35 men, women
and children as well as wounding another 13. It sparked what was to be the
most significant reform of firearms legislation in Australia's recent
history.

Politicians went into frenzy as they, in reality, had little choice other
than to engage in some populist politicking if they wished to retain their
seats in parliament. The sheer volume of new restrictions implemented in the
Firearms Act 1996 made it impossible for the public or media to fairly
scrutinise each of them. The more important issues, the restrictions dealing
with real firearms, took priority over the relatively minor inclusion of
replica firearms to the schedule of prohibited weapons.

The magnitude of the far-reaching implications of having these items on the
schedule of prohibited firearms in both the Firearms Act 1996 and the
Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 has not yet been realised. Despite the obvious
problems such as simple replicas like water pistols being banned, true to
type non-functional replicas that genuinely replicate the action, look and
feel of real firearms are pointlessly banned.

There is absolutely no reasonable justification for banning non-firing
replica firearms. The official line from the Firearms Registry is that
criminals could potentially misuse them for illegal purposes E.g. Armed
Robbery. Now I am no fanatic, I completely agree that they can and most
definitely are used in crime, reasonably often in fact. However, if the
interest of the government were to protect the people then completely
legalising replicas would be an obvious first step in my opinion. After all,
these replicas are completely harmless from a physical standpoint. Despite
the obvious concerns of the psychological problems a crime, with what
victims believe to be a real firearm, could inflict, they are at no time in
any physical danger from the replica. It could be argued they should be
protected from psychological damage as well but in reality that would be
impossible. If not a replica firearm it would be something else, possibly
something that poses a very real physical danger such as a knife, a syringe
filled with blood, or even a real firearm.

The re-legalisation of replica firearms would also likely even reduce the
amount of illicit functional firearms in the community. Coupled with the
tough restrictions already in place on functional firearms in Australia, it
would severely place a dent in the demand for illicit functional firearms.
Let's face it; the average criminal won't pay possibly ten times as much for
an illegal functional firearm that can do the same job as a legal replica.
Arguably legalising replicas would have a greater impact on the illicit
firearms market than restrictions on conventional firearms, as they nearly
always target innocent law abiding owners.

So far, I have outlined the numerous illegal uses for these replicas and
neglected the legal purposes. These replicas would be a great alternative
for collectors or anyone with a fascination with firearms to obtain rather
than getting a functional one. The natural phenomenon that was created when
firearms were restricted was that many people became interested in firearms
simply because they can't have them and therefore developed a want to
experience their reality. This phenomenon can be especially observed in
children, many of which develop a lust for what is prohibited to them. This
cannot only be observed with firearms but drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. The
difference between the others and firearms is with firearms we have a safe
alternative to offer them so they can satisfy their desire.

Now of course, there are obvious problems in giving children un-fettered
access to replica firearms, which are becoming increasingly obvious in
countries that do, such as the U.S.A where there have been a few incidences
where children playing with replica firearms are mistaken as having the real
thing. There is no reason however, that they shouldn't be able to own
replicas once they reach a certain age. Once they turn eighteen we trust our
children to drive, smoke, drink alcohol or even vote, surely they can be
trusted with non-functional model guns? They seem much less dangerous to me
than cigarettes, cars or alcohol.

The countless benefits of legalising replica firearms seem evident to pretty
much every civilized nation other than Australia. Even countries that have a
much tougher stance on gun control than Australia such as England or Germany
allow the un-restricted ownership of these replicas. New Zealand, our close
neighbours also allow the virtually un-restricted ownership by adults. It is
simple, re-legalising replicas will give far more benefits than pitfalls. It
is glaringly obvious. After all, why else would the likes of Australia,
Indonesia and Singapore be the only countries to introduce such bans? John
Howard speaks of "turning around the culture in the country", but I say, he
doesn't have the right to do that. This is a supposedly free country, and as
such, we have the right to shape our culture as we wish. If Australians feel
firearms are a part of the history and culture of Australia, they have that
right. Howard has no place forcing what he believes our culture should be
onto us.


P.S. I welcome feedback. Particularly from people who support the ban on
replica firearms. If you are wondering, I am a New South Welshman.

george

Because somebody had to show they were doing "something". Never mind that is
of no real value. Your government used this for an excuse to disarm the law
abiding citizens and left the criminals armed. Every government does the
same thing.
George in Las Vegas

seb

I think that's obvious. Even howard said on talk radio that banning
semi-autoand auto rifles wan't about reducing crime, it was about changing
the culture. A very elitist thing to say under any circumstance. His view of
what Australia should be being forced onto us. MORON!

~Seb