Raffle Hypocrisy

In four Australian states/territories it is still possible to have a raffle with a firearm as the prize. These would be Victoria, Tasmania and with some restrictions Western Australia and the ACT.

All the other states the wowsers have won out. It is illegal to have a raffle that includes a gun or ammunition as a prize.

You can win a race horse or a sex toy or a bottle of scotch but you cannot win a firearm.

In Queensland they have taken an all in approach. The Rules state that you may not win “a weapon or ammunition”.

In New South Wales firearms and ammunition are listed above prohibited weapons.

The Northern Territory was obviously feeling a little nervous the day they banned firearms, weapons, ammunition and explosives.

And of course the State that tries to outdo everyone else in oddity, South Australia bans firearms, antique firearms and ammunition within the meaning of the Firearms Act 1977 and dangerous articles within the meaning of the Summary Offences Act 1953.

Now I can understand why we should have a ban on raffling surgical procedures, tobacco products and anything that will get you arrested the minute that you win.

If however, you were lucky enough to win a shotgun, it represents the first step in a long legal process that every firearms owner is familiar with.

Yes you do need to have the proper licenses and storage capacities to hold that gun. Yes you do need to register the firearm and fill in all the details when collecting your new shotgun from a registered firearms dealer.

Yes all the rules that apply to legally owning a firearm are applied to you before you can take possession and you do need to maintain all the required safeguards in order to keep it.

So why then is it illegal to win the shotgun in the first place?  Each state and territory recognises a list of shooting and hunting organisations. These organisations are encouraged to promote their sport or pastime to all members of the community.

It appears there is nothing to be gained by disallowing these organisations to raffle a firearm in just the same way a fishing club can raffle a rod and reel or a football club can raffle a competition ball.

It’s time to put the case to all State’s and Territories to lift the ban on raffles having firearms and ammunition as prizes while ever they are applying such a strict set of rules to firearm ownership.

Every shooting or hunting organisation can work within a set of guidelines that ensures the winners are fully eligible to legally own that firearm. The rest is simply wowserism gone overboard

Nothing further needs to be said

Peter Rice
June 2009