Australasian Police Ministers once again ignored calls for tougher shooter training, serious consideration of stricter handgun controls and tougher gun collection storage requirements at their meeting in Sydney on 9-10 June, 1999.

“They’re asking for trouble,” said Gun Control Australia (GCA) Spokesperson Randy Marshall. “The community faces a triumvirate of dangers — ill-trained shooters, self-policing pistol owners and vulnerable gun collections just begging to be raided by criminals.

“It’s an explosive combination — and the dangers will not fade away,” Mr Marshall said.”Handgun violence is rising significantly — with 3 of 6 multiple gun homicides committed with handguns post-Port Arthur (compared to no handguns being used in any of the 28 massacres prior to and including Martin Bryant’s rampage).

“And weapons in ill-secured collections remain tempting targets for criminals — with documented thefts revisiting the community and law enforcement personnel with violence and death,” Mr Marshall said.

“And yet they choose to ignore the issue, focussing instead on considering bans on certain knives,” Mr Marshall said.

“GCA applauds any reduction to nation-wide inventories of dangerous weapons — but we feel our lawmakers and law enforcers are blissfully ignoring a time-bomb which could explode in their faces at any time,” Mr Marshall stressed.

“Most importantly, more innocent Australians will die in handgun and other shootings as a result of their lack of resolve,” Mr Marshall said.