<<Genesis93>> wrote:Bladeracer... I was 'lucky' in that they came back to me with a "you're name is not involved..."
But you.... DON'T let this go, this is BS, the fact that there are files (spreadsheets?) 'doing the rounds' with lists of gun owners names/address/etc, shows the absolute contempt for the security of shooters... if thats how they treat our MOST strictly confidential information...thats not good enough. By far.
This 'data' is not lists of drivers licenses, most everyone has a car, its firearms, that ARE most definitely a target for the criminal element.
This yet again reinforces the FACT that there should be no compilation of firearm owners, other than perhaps a single list of firearm owners, or preferably a list of prohibited individuals who are NOT permitted to own/use firearms...
Come on SSAA, SFFP and other groups claiming to 'represent' LAFOs....Get the F%$# onto this
In some rural areas I'd be surprised if less people own firearms than own cars. And I do not agree that firearms are a target for criminals, at least not criminals in the general sense. We know that stolen firearms rarely turn up in criminal activity, although a handful are recovered from criminals that don't use them criminally. I think stolen firearms tend to go to people that are prevented from legally owning firearms for various reasons, and those that simply disagree with the licencing and registration requirements (for obvious reasons) without any notion of ever using them to commit criminal acts against other people. The only "criminal" act many of these types are ever likely to commit is simple possession of an unlicenced and/or stolen firearm. The "outback" of NT, SA and WA is awash with unlicenced firearms and unlicenced shooters, that never do any harm to anybody. I've met people in remote areas that had never even heard of firearms licencing or registration, and many that have a vague awareness of it simply assume it only applies to "city people".
But licenced firearms owners are very seriously held to account for securing our firearms, and to high standards of social responsibility, and heavily punished for even minor lapses.
But, as with motorcycles, anybody that wants to steal firearms merely has to wait up the road from any gunshop or range, take down rego numbers and follow people home to find out where they live. This was happening at our pistol club in Perth, and several member's homes were burgled and handguns taken.
I'm unimpressed with their disregard of our privacy, and increasing our potential risk of being targeted. But I live on a farm, and anybody burgling rural properties is extremely likely to find plenty of gunsafes anyway, without needing a list - I only know of one person locally around me that does not currently own any firearms. Even on the slight chance that my details did fall into nefarious hands, I doubt I'm at any greater risk than I already was. The data includes our licence categories, and I doubt there is great demand for stolen A or B class firearms. I would be much more concerned if I had a C, D or H licence on top of the A/B, although I suspect not too many of those would be involved with DELWP.
And if real hard criminals really wanted legally-owned firearms they'd merely have to kick doors in and threaten the spouse or children until the owner hands them the keys to his safes, very simple for desperate people, but it just doesn't happen...at least, not yet. It's less risky for them to simply buy better firearms illegally imported for the purpose.