Pauline Hanson has revealed that she is unsure whether Martin Bryant was the shooter who killed 35 people at Port Arthur in 1996. The argument initiated soon after the massacre by ex-British private security agent Joe Vialls of Perth is mainly based on the idea that the killing rampage at Port Arthur was the work of a skilled marksman and could not have been done by a novice such as Bryant.

This incredible idea is a convenient way of explaining why the stricter gun laws which became operative after the Port Arthur massacre were neither practically justified or well-intentioned. Such being the case, they argue, there must have been a conspiracy developed by the Howard Federal Government to introduce the stricter gun laws for some other reason than that given – to protect the public from future gun massacres.

That true reason, the Vialls conspiracy theory claims, must be caused by a world-wide desire by national governments to disarm people so that the United Nations can take over individual nations against the will of their people.

The theory finds favour with many gun groups in Australia – the same people who are responsible for One Nation’s gun policy. This would allow all citizens to own military style semi-automatic rifles and guns for self-defence. The Queensland pro-gun extremists such as gunsmith Bob Doring and Ron Owen, owner and editor of the infamous ‘Lock, Stock and Barrel’ gun magazine, advise One Nation. Although sporting shooter groups at times suggest they don’t believe this stupid conspiracy theory, they seldom condemn it and most shooters back Hanson on guns.

The absurdity of this conspiracy theory is realised when one considers the great number and wide range of people and authorities who would have to keep the reasons for the Port Arthur massacre a secret. The Tasmanian Government, Police, Health authorities and several reputable psychiatrists. The Federal Government and the Opposition as well as the Liberal, National and Labor Parties throughout Australia. Again, why would a conservative government go against its rural constituency on guns. The new gun laws have been a headache in the bush for those parties ever since.

Pauline Hanson’s credibility may have been enhanced amongst the rural based dedicated gun owners but she has ridiculed herself by promoting the Bryant conspiracy theory. She also ridicules all other Australian parliamentarians with her irrational and biassed ideas. She has, of course, caused great pain to those who lost loved ones at Port Arthur – but sympathy is not a feature of Hansonism.

The One Nation policy on guns will cause immense damage throughout Australian society because it would allow immature and careless people to own and use the most dangerous of weapons – military rifles. Her belief in guns for self-defence will allow the proliferation of handguns and send Australia on the American path.

Over the last decade better gun laws have saved thousands of Australians as the yearly gun death rate has dropped from 700 to 350. Hanson’s gun policies would send us back to 700 per year. Ms Hanson’s tactics may be a threat to sitting parliamentarians but her gun policies will be a disaster for the Australian public.