Hey, whooah! Don't write us Aussies off yet!
The situation 'down under' is not as dire as many of you will have been told, but it's not smelling like roses either.
The various presiding governments had been trying to grapple with the 'problem' of a flood of cheap military semi-autos entering the country, mainly from China, for many years. A number of rampage mass-murders, culminating in the Port Arthur massacre, finally provided them with the political opportunity to ban the importation and ownership of self-loading centre-fire rifles outright. A so-called 'buy-back' was invoked to strip the shooting public of this class of firearm. Unfortunately self-loading rim-fires, along with pump and auto shotguns, were caught up in the net as well.
Note that 'occupational' users of these classes of firearm were unaffected, and that bolt-action, pump, or double rifles, and 2-barrel shotguns were also untouched. There was a raft of other 'administrative' restrictions as well, such as mandatory range attendances for some licence or firearm classes, mandatory safe storage standards, de-activation standards for assault-rifle collectors, etc. Some of these 'reforms' are welcomed but most of them are designed to 'stuff people around' and ultimately force the participation rates down.
Although I probably own more firearms than any 10 other people, I had no pump or semi-autos registered for sports shooting, so I had a lucky escape.
A few years ago, the Government decided to go the same road with hand-guns. Nothing above .38 calibre is allowed for sports-shooting except the disciplines of 'Cowboy Action' and 'Metallic Silhouette'. Short-barrels were outlawed, and magazine capacity on the semi-autos was restricted to 10 rounds. Once again however, 'occupational' users were unaffected. This time I had to shuffle a few items on and off my Collectors' Licence, but surrendered nothing. It was a great pity though, as I enjoyed shooting my various Webley .455s and a Colt New Service revolver in centrefire competition.
As it stands today, there are no restrictions on the ownership, use, capacity, or calibre of any bolt-action, double, or single-shot rifle, nor any bolt-action or break-open shotgun. CraigF, you
dont wanna know how many .303s are in the larger of my 3 safes!
When I wish to hunt, I grab any rifle I please and simply head 'out bush'. I mainly chase boar and buff, no hunting licence, no tags, no seasons, no bag-limits. Fill yer boots!
Our waterfowl season in the Northern Territory is 14 birds per day for 4 months, comprising no more than 7 geese and no more than 7 ducks per day. The Government hunting reserves include a couple of the best goose camps within 50km of my home.
We're doing all right!
