WA Police State: Firearms Industry Under Threat
November 14, 2017
Letter from Ron Bryant SSAA WA President to all licensed firearms owners
FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTION
I am writing to advise you of developments in relation to transport options for WA Firearms Dealers in WA due to WA Police imposing a policy determination based on a section of the WA Firearms Act. The result is that WA Police have dictated that Australia Post is no longer an available transport medium.
There are currently 11 transport companies approved to transport firearms in WA, however most don’t offer an option to service the Firearms market in WA or are indeed government only.
Along with WA Firearms Traders, SIFA and SFFP and others we have been seeking some common sense resolve in numerous meetings with the Police Commissioner and the Minister for Police. However we have all well and truly had our patience tested with no results and it’s time for us to seek your additional help. There are over 85000 licensed shooters in WA and if they all write a letter the impact will be a lot clearer to those making decisions.
To add salt to the wound WA Police appeared to self-approve an exclusive transport company for their own service when they realised the impact of the policy on getting their own equipment around the state to service their operational needs in country regions of Western Australia.
The impact of this debacle creates a situation of a trade shutdown on the WA firearms community. Some examples of this is Firearms Dealers can’t get stock “in or out” of the state, when it can be worked out the cost is prohibitive which flows onto you as the end user, country and remote firearms dealers who service our country clubs and members are talking about shutting shop, your second hand gear can’t be sent east unless under exorbitant costs if a carrier can be found, same for warranty firearms, and we are reliably told powder cannot currently be brought into WA.
WE URGENTLY need your help by writing to the Police Minister as well as writing to your local Member of Parliament letting them know that you are not happy with the further vilification of the shooting sports. If you don’t know who your local Member of Parliament is or what electorate you are in here are the links.
I cannot stress the importance of you helping in writing a basic letter as Australia Post is an approved transport medium in all other states of Australia which is cost effective, safe and secure and has been an acceptable standard in WA for many years without issue.
Below are sample letters to both the WA Police Minister and Local Members that may want to modify with your own examples in dealing with WA Police and the poor treatment you receive when paying Australia’s highest fees for licensing.
Yours sincerely,
Ron Bryant
State President
SSAA WA Inc
