A Not Uncommon View

The recent Firearms Reform Bill has highlighted a really deep & almost savage contempt for the stakeholders plus anyone or any process that dares steps in front of what Paul Papalia MLA, the WA Police Minister, the WA Cabinet & all the WA Labor MPs' want. The bill was heralded as bringing in the Law Reform Commission recommendations & yet the many of the clause are the complete opposite. Having numerical limits was not a recommendation, in fact the report recommended not to have numerical limits. The Govt made many claims, supporting evidential research was scant or missing and even during the recent Estimates the Police Commissioner said he'd get requested data but apparently it would require reallocating valuable staff to access it. So, the data is supposedly there, it was used as the evidential research for reforms & it's somehow now a very difficult logistical issue accessing it. Not a click. Staff will have to stop what they're doing & go find i...

Its clear. Its drawing to a close. Firearm Reforms are coming but what's coming & why is little less clear. Regulations that underpin what police officers actually enforce is very unclear. There are not even suggestions what the regulations will involve. Be aware a law is an Act of Parliament. A regulation is an Act of Administration. A law must pass through the Parliament to be changed, a regulation only needs a minister pen. That means it could be good or it could be very bad. What else that's bad is consultation appears to be be token & selective. Going by yesterday's sitting of the Legislative Committee the reasons for the changes are looking decidedly fluid & also shaky. Its bad enough that the statistics for each of many hundreds of clauses are not available it's almost looking like they weren't used if they do exist. The reply that police resources would need to be reallocated to find the supporting data is a red flag suggesting a terribly serious...

If you're a writer or a commentator you're out there influencing people even if you pretend otherwise. The Christian Scriptures have a number clear concepts that, whether you're Christian of not, that should be applied to all modern life. To be a pastor, there's standard set out but there are also very clear instructions to those listening to a Pastor.  Acts 17:11 "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily  to find out  whether these things were so." Its often referred to as the Berean way. So whether your Christian or not, its pretty clear and very sensible that if you're really fair minded person you'll listen to things you're told but if you'll go see if these things are true or not. Test what you've been told. In this day & age, we have the advantage of having more seek & test power than any other point in time with internet search...

When You Read Through The Firearms Reform Bill Remember To... Take Notes. Why? So youconsider putting them in easy to follow dot points & share them with others. Share them with the WA Firearms Community Alliance, your local MP, your friends & family & on whatever social media you use. Try & help others spot glitches, faults as well as positive changes. If you're looking at the new Bill you'll not between the new Bill & the old(current) Act the number of pages has gone up. A LOT. From 128 to the new Bill which has 241 pages. That is an extraodinarily large change. The new Bill is available for download here https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/Bills.nsf/EB595277534C5BFD48258ACA000A0914/$File/Bill%2B150-1.pdf There is also the " Explanatory Memorandum presented in the Legislative Assembly" available for download here... https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/Bills.nsf/EB595277534C5BFD48258ACA000A0914/$File/EM%2B150-1.pdf The mi...

The Firearms Reform issues are many. That is the intellectually sketchy bits. Addressed some of them in other entries but if I were a Member of Parliament I'd be remembering very well the clear fact that being elected to Parliament may well be said to be a great honour, but it comes with immense responsibility to the Citizens of W.A. An elected MP has rights & responsibilities. Failure to exercise those rights is a clear sign of responsibilities abandoned & the hallmark of a failure of office of Member of Parliament. A sworn in MP has to sometimes be reminded that their office is a distinguished & noble offic eof public service that takes only a small amount of disregard for their public service, that is them serving the public to dishonour the office. Failure to serve the public properly & fully is a failure of office. That aside sometimes you have to email your local MP in the Lower House and/or the Upper House. Sometimes you have to email all of them at the same ...

Below is the reply I revcieved from Labor's Albany MP Rebecca Stephens MLA Below that is her same reply with (in red text) my reply to her email. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dear Mr Robins Thank you for contacting me regarding the proposed reforms to the  Firearms Act 1973 .   The Cook Labor Government is undertaking the largest overhaul of firearms laws in Western Australia’s history by rewriting and updating the 50-year-old Firearms Act.   Keeping the community safe is a priority for our Government, and the new Firearms Act will strike the right balance between public safety and legitimate and responsible gun ownership.   In addition, the reforms implement recommendations from the 2016 Law Reform Commission Review and align WA with key elements of the 2017 National Firearms Agreement.    The Cook Government’s...