[Greens-Media] DV murder/suicide: why did AVO husband still have gun?

Alison Orme Alison.Orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Wed Dec 17 10:43:55 EST 2008


Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release - 17 December 2008

Domestic violence murder/suicide: why did AVO husband still have gun? 


Greens MP and justice spokesperson Lee Rhiannon is calling on Police
Minister Tony Kelly to investigate why a man from South West Sydney, who
yesterday shot his wife and then himself, still had a gun despite NSW
laws requiring a person with a gun licence to surrender their gun to
police if subject to an apprehended violence order (AVO). 

Under the NSW Firearm Act 1996 where a person is subject to an AVO, or
an interim AVO, their licence is automatically suspended or revoked (ss
23 and 24). The person subject to the AVO is then required to
immediately surrender the firearm to police (s25).

“Police Minister Tony Kelly must urgently investigate why a man who
is the subject of an AVO to protect his wife still has a gun, despite
clear laws against it,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Premier Rees says he is prepared to review gun laws and is today
meeting with the National Coalition for Gun Control. 

“This incident should help to concentrate the Premier’s mind on the
perils of gun ownership in our society.

“The Premier’s review of gun laws should ask why laws put the onus
on the AVO subject to surrender his gun to police, rather than require
police proactively seize the firearm. 

"Tragedies like this are at risk of becoming more prevalent with the
increasing number of firearms in circulation. 

“Approximately 10,000 additional firearms have been registered each
year in NSW since 2004.

“The recent weakening of gun control laws by the Shooters Party, with
the support of the major parties, may well see more accidents, deaths
and suicides from guns.

"This year the Shooters Party introduced changes to gun laws to make it
easier for men subject to domestic violence orders to have their weapons
returned. It is also simpler for gun owners to hold multiple firearms.

"Unravelling national uniform gun laws made after the Port Arthur
massacre is a dangerous move, for women, children and the community as a
whole,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 5687


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au 


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