❓ A parliamentary question seeks data on firearm offences involving licensed vs. unlicensed firearms to assess the impact of proposed restrictions on law-abiding firearm owners. The answer provides context regarding the rewritten Firearms Act and general firearm incident statistics, but doesn't directly answer the specific data requests.
AnsweredQoN 1752Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Government’s proposed plan to further restrict law-abiding firearm licence holders, and I ask: (a) if the key objective is public safety, in the most recent data available how many firearms related offences were committed using licensed firearms; (b) how many firearms related offences were committed using unlicensed firearms; (c) is there any visible trend over recent years; and (d) if yes to (c), what is the trend?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 February 2024
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services representing the Minister for Police
Response time
6 days
(a) – (d)
As was recommended by the Review of the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) Law Reform Commission report of October 2016, the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) has been rewritten from the ground up with a statement as to the purpose of the Firearms Legislation that confirms:
a. The primary principle is the need to ensure public safety:
b. The possession and use of firearms is a privilege that is always conditional on the need to ensure public safety; and
c. Public safety can be improved by requiring strict controls on the possession, use, dealing and manufacturing of firearms and requiring the safe and secure storage and carriage of firearms.
In 2023, the Western Australia Police Force advise that there were 517 incidents involving firearms this represents a 14% increase on recorded incidents involving a firearm in 2022.
As was recommended by the Review of the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) Law Reform Commission report of October 2016, the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) has been rewritten from the ground up with a statement as to the purpose of the Firearms Legislation that confirms:
a. The primary principle is the need to ensure public safety:
b. The possession and use of firearms is a privilege that is always conditional on the need to ensure public safety; and
c. Public safety can be improved by requiring strict controls on the possession, use, dealing and manufacturing of firearms and requiring the safe and secure storage and carriage of firearms.
In 2023, the Western Australia Police Force advise that there were 517 incidents involving firearms this represents a 14% increase on recorded incidents involving a firearm in 2022.
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