Thursday, 5 March 2026

 Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (10:18): I wish to go on record prior to the release of the rapid review firearms report and remind us all that it is important that Victorians understand that recreational shooting is a legitimate sport and pastime, and there should be no confusion between those who use guns as legal firearms and sporting shooting, duck hunting or any other form of recreational shooting. The number of guns that licensed gun holders require can add up to 12 to 15 very easily if you compete in various types of shooting, and added to that is the fact that many shooters have a family heirloom that sits in their gun cupboard and is rarely used. If there is a reduction in the numbers of guns allowed, it is fair to say the small-bore pea rifles, air rifles et cetera will all be the first thing to go, rather than the large-bore rifles. We must never forget that guns do not kill people; it is people that kill people, and we should not confuse the amount of legal firearms one can have with enforcing the law on illegal guns and guns used for criminal activity.