In our last report we raised the problem which faces Australian
shooters because of the close relationship between America’s extremist
gun group, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Australia’s large
shooting group,the Sporting Shooters Association – see Latest News on
21.6.03 and 24.9.04.

The NRA’s reputation arose again during the recent US presidential
election. The NRA used TV advertising which made claims about Democrat
candidate John Kerry which appear to be quite untrue.

In their ad the NRA accused Kerry of voting to outlaw deer hunting
ammunition. In fact, what Kerry voted for was a proposal to outlaw
rifle ammunition which was designed or marketed as having armour
piercing capability. The NRA ad also claimed that Kerry co-sponsored a
bill that would ban every semi-auto shotgun and every pump shotgun. In
fact Kerry’s proposal would have expanded the Assault Weapons ban (now
expired) to cover military-style shotguns and specifically exempted
pump-action shotguns.

It seems that reporting factually may mean little to the NRA.

Sometimes the SSAA seems to be saying things which appear
contradictory.

On June 30th 2004 the Ecology Centre of the University of Queensland
hosted a public forum on conservation issues. This conference is
summarised on the University’s website,www.ecology.uq.edu.au.

Geoff Jones, president of the Queensland branch of the SSAA spoke at
the conference. His approach is aimed at attracting the support of
conservation groups. He is quoted on the website as saying that,
SSAA properties are not used for hunting, but are declared nature
refuges.

Yet in 2002 the NSW branch of the SSAA purchased a 32,000 hectare
property in the north-western corner of the state so that SSAA members
could hunt there. Furthermore, in the October 2004 edition of the SSAA
magazine, ‘Australian Shooter’ the goals of the company which will
operate the property, and is headed by national president of the SSAA,
Bill Shelton, make it fairly clear that recreational hunting is one of
the main aims of this and other proposed property purchases.

The Australian Shooter magazine of October 2004 claims that the
primary business of this new SSAA supported company is:

* The provision of venues and facilities that allow and encourage
shareholders and customers to pursue their interests in recreational
hunting, shooting, fishing and other outdoor activities.

* The practical demonstration of, and promotion of, recreational
hunting in conjunction with grazing as sustainable activities.

Perhaps there is some explanation for the discordance between the
views qiven by the Queensland SSAA president and the SSAA’s magazine.