Owen Guns Bulletin February 2015

Firstly, I would like to thank the good firearm owners and their friends who signed the petition to the Police Minister asking for Police policy to be changed so that ‘Permits to Acquire’ were only required by people who did not have a Queensland Licence in the required category, as per the Weapons Act of 1990. Over 2200 Queenslanders signed that E-petition on the Parliamentary Website. (This Bulletin goes out to 7900 shooters, we always wonder why the other 5700 must like PTAs, or are too busy, or scared to sign a parliamentary petition of protest.)

Unfortunately, due to the call to a speedy election and the subsequent retirement of Member for Gympie David Gibson, he cannot speak to the petition when it is read in parliament, and at present the new parliament intentions is anyone’s guess. However, all who signed the petition are now aware that we have the “PTA wait and $34. Fine system” imposed on us.  
Not at the will of our politicians, not at the will of legislation, but at the will of the Queensland Police.
Each of the 2200 Petitioners will receive a reply from the Police Minister that will be written by an advisor from the Queensland Police. The positives in this process, are that the policeman, (with legal training) that puts his name on this advice will have to concoct a lie, or assent to the petition and change the policy. With the change in government, that assent is highly unlikely and a lie is almost guaranteed. The new Police Minister will be asked to put his name, (and reputation) on the bottom of that letter. Once we 2200 shooters all get a copy, that give us the opportunity to expose that lie. We can email that ‘expose’ to all media outlets, to the shadow Minister of Police, to the police ‘ethical standards’ (don’t laugh too Loud, they are supposed to have them somewhere) or anywhere else, or whom ever we think may listen. This tremendous struggle we are engaged in, is not over until we win back our rights and freedoms.

Just to Remind you of…
How Willing ‘some’ Members of the Queensland Police are to ‘Lie’
and to emphasise and expect the above.

(Remember, I did say ‘SOME’ not ALL, it is impossible to believe that the Queensland Police Training system can overcome all the good, highly motivated ‘moral’ recruits, its just that in our field, we seem to see all the bad examples, or maybe its like that saying, ‘the scum always comes to the top’)
Here is a report from the Queensland Ministerial Weapons Advisory Panel. MAP. (That fell off the back of a truck on to the Bruce Highway)

“Many of you have expressed concern about the sudden decision by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Weapons Licensing Branch (WLB) to issue a statement on its website that:
“The current policy when determining a licence for Category H occupational/primary production purposes is that the property size must be substantially large, for example over 5000 acres.”
The Ministerial Weapons Advisory Panel (the Panel) expressed these concerns to Police Minister Dempsey, and to the credit of the Minister and his staff, his office immediately sought clarification from WLB.
WLB responded that: “The change has been brought about owing to a recent decision in QCAT (Shaxson QCAT14-309) wherein it was reinforced in the final judgement that the size of the property must be substantial…”.
The QCAT decision WLB are referring to said no such thing.  The QCAT Member who decided that matter did not make any statements whatsoever about what size a property should be for a Category H primary production licence to be granted. 
Put simply: the reasons WLB gave to the Minister to justify their new policy do not in fact exist. The Panel has alerted the Minister to this, and has also provided the Minister’s office with a copy of the full QCAT decision. (You can find the full decision at: http://archive.sclqld.org.au/qjudgment/2014/QCAT14-309.pdf

There are two possible explanations for this incident.  The first is that WLB have deliberately provided misleading and incorrect information to the Minister, to gain Ministerial support for a new administrative policy that they wish to pursue.
The second possibility is that WLB have fundamentally misinterpreted the outcome and content of a case that was heard before QCAT, and have based their internal policy decisions and advice to the Minister on an honest, but deeply mistaken, understanding.

The possibility that sworn police officers would knowingly provide untrue information is unthinkable.  It is utterly repugnant to the core values and integrity of the entire QPS, and must be ruled out.*

The only remaining explanation is that WLB lack sufficient knowledge and expertise to provide accurate, credible advice to the Minister on matters relating to firearms.  This suggests WLB are developing and applying policies that have no basis in fact or evidence.

A Minister has the right to rely on their public servants for informed and accurate advice.  In most instances, public servants work hard to ensure the quality and integrity of their advice.  However, this incident raises very serious questions about whether the Police Minister can, in fact, rely on WLB to provide sound advice.

It seems that, at present, policies are being developed and applied on the basis of incorrect knowledge and inaccurate assumptions. This casts significant doubt on whether the Minister can continue to trust WLB to develop and apply internal administrative policies relating to firearms management.

The role of the Panel to date has been to provide expert advice on firearm-related matters, from an industry perspective.  It is reasonable to expect that this is just one source of information that the Minister will take into consideration when making decisions.  We would not suggest – or expect – otherwise.

But these latest events suggest that the advice the Panel is able to provide is of greater accuracy and reliability than the advice WLB is able to provide.

So far, the Minister has acted in good faith towards the Panel, and has always given fair hearing to the views we have put forward.  Late last year, the Minister tasked the Panel and the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA) to develop proposals for him to consider, for new and more efficient and cost-effective directions for firearms management in QLD.  This is something no Minister has done before.

Anything we develop will of course be commented on by WLB.  This is entirely proper, but it now seems the ability of WLB to make accurate and informed judgements of any proposals the Panel may put forward must be seriously questioned.

When it comes time for Ministers to make decisions, the views of their public servants are given great importance and often receive a privileged place in the decision-making process.  This is usually for good reasons – public servants often hold great expertise and knowledge.

But in the present situation, does this mean the Minister will give special favour to the advice of WLB, over the advice of the Panel, even though WLB’s ability to provide accurate advice has now been shown to be less than that of the Panel?

What implications will that have for informed, evidence-based firearms management policy in QLD?

Responding to this issue will pose a very difficult challenge for the Minister – whoever that may be post-election.  We will keep you informed.  However, if you have concerns about any of the material above, please write to the Weapons Advisory Panel, via the Police Minister.”

You may also drop a copy into the Letter to the Editor, of your local paper, or share on Facebook, or other internet outlets, more importantly drop a copy into your local member of parliament so he to knows that he is being lied to. The author of the above report has rose coloured glasses as the MAP Weapons Advisory Panel, only includes shooters associations, and firearm dealers who are on friendly terms with the Queensland Police and the Police Minister, other members on the panel such as the Queensland Police Union, and the Police Minister Staff are hardly going to assist in regaining your rights and freedoms as if they did they would be quickly replaced. Some of the representatives who may have it in their hearts to protest for us, have to make the hard decision, if they speak out with the truth. Then all that will be left in the panel will be our fatal enemies.

I would also like to thank the 40 subscribers to this Bulletin who put submissions into the Gympie Regional Council in support of the Corella Range Complex. It very well might make the difference in our local government recommendation, but unfortunately we might have to wait again for a change of government to resurrect the ‘Agreement in Principle’, we had from the now ex Minister Steve Dickson.  It seems that the ‘Green’ opposition has succeeded in stalling us until they got a change of government. Still, it is not over, every submission, every little win in the battle is another step nearer in winning the war.

Marlin Model 336 W   30-30 Win $720. (no layby)  Laminated Stocks.

For the latest Design features  and accuracy Thompson/Centre Venture have won a huge reputation, they guarantee to shoot within 1 inch moa.  We have these in most calibres but unfortunately when we replace this stock the new price will shock everyone. $695. while they last.

Armed Under & Over 12 gauge $775.

Remington Model 7600 Pump Action .308 w 22 inch barrel. $1350.  Any Inquiries on any products phone 07 54824099 or 07 54825070 or email owenguns@spiderweb.com.au

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