Victorian Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has applauded NSW Deputy Premier and Police Minister Troy Grant’s “sensible decision” on the classification of seven-shot lever-action shotguns.
Mr Grant wants the Adler, a seven-shot lever-action shotgun, moved from category A to the more restrictive category B and he took his recommendation to the NSW Cabinet on Thursday.
In a media release issued on Wednesday, Ballarat local Senator McKenzie said a firearm classified in category B meant licensed gun owners must meet stringent criteria on the reason they need this particular type of gun.
“I strongly back more than 800,000 responsible licensed gun owners in this country and I also support the current National Firearms Agreement (NFA), which has worked for 20 years since the tragedy of Port Arthur,” she said. “The only reason the ban was imposed was because the states and territories, who must agree on the appropriate classification of firearms under the NFA, couldn’t reach a consensus.
“Thousands of law abiding gun owners have been waiting patiently for a resolution of this issue and I think it’s time for that to happen. I applaud the Deputy Premier, who is also the Police Minister, for reaching a commonsense decision in the face of what has been ill-informed argument.
“The NFA has always required the agreement of all states and territories on issues regarding the regulation of firearms. Now it’s up to the states and territories to make a decision based on evidence, not emotion.”
