On behalf of the great majority of Australians; that is, those who think we should have strong gun laws, we record our great disappointment that the AIC is being drawn into fundraising for an organisation which continually tries to show that our gun laws are useless, and that Australia’s gun laws should more closely resemble those in the United States.

It is also disappointing that the inappropriate actions of the Australian Institute of Criminology will benefit a major international gun manufacturer.

By way of clarification, we simply note that this month one of the senior research analysts of the Australian Institute of Criminology has agreed to be a guest speaker at a fundraising dinner dance for the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Vic). The advertising for this says that,”…a HUGE diversity of Beretta merchandise, including accessories, knives, firearms etc”, will be auctioned”.

We have made it clear to the Australian Institute of Criminology that we think its behaviour is enormously disheartening for all people who want Australia to have a regime of strict gun laws. As we see it, the Institute’s actions are far from helping that process.