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National Coalition for Gun Control - Media Release
October 25, 2002

Prime Ministers Handgun Advisory Council
Stacked With Shooters

The National Coalition for Gun Control (NCGC) is highly concerned with the Prime Ministers ‘Sporting Shooters Advisory Council’ that will be established to advise on the handguns required for accredited sporting competition.

The NCGC believes that such a Council will make a handgun buyback scheme futile.

"If the primary concern of the potential new handgun laws is public safety, then why aren’t public health representatives part of this advisory board", says Samantha Lee, Joint Chair of the National Coalition for Gun Control.

"Shooters are not public health experts, they are people who play sport. If these new laws are going to be successful the Advisory Council must include expertise from a wide range of disciplines, such as, health professionals, women’s domestic violence groups and gun control lobbyists.

"At the moment we have the fox in charge of the chicken pen. There is an enormous conflict of interest here. It is like asking gamblers to regulate poker machines", says Ms Lee.

The National Coalition for Gun Control will continue to lobby the governments on the issue of handgun laws, until there is consistency in the laws in regards to all semi-automatic firearms.

Media Contacts:

Roland Browne: Joint Chair, National Coalition for Gun Control 0419 388 360

Sam Lee: Joint Chair, National Coalition for Gun Control 0418 49 14 59