This topic will for sure create some debate, have your say be respectful and at the end of the thread hopefully some workable outcomes are achieved. 

At present there is any number of firearm related incidents in the media and continual push for more gun reforms, as shooters who are legally enjoying sports i find that being put into a large bucket with the those who are not licenced firearms owners, have no safe keeping and no legitimate reason to own a firearm disappointing in this country. 

The time has arrived, for Benchrest shooters and discipline shooters to be actively involved in supporting each other in times to come government won't see disciplines they will see shooters generally.

We all know that this is not the case and we all enjoy the shooting sports. 

Shooters who have the equipment that meets other sports rules should be encouraged to try the sport out attend a registered match state, national level. This builds numbers within our sport and other disciplines. It will be a numbers game in the future. 

Recently media covered licenced holders who had over 200 firearms at various locations across Sydney this highlighting was most inappropriate given now those areas will be sought out by negative members of the community making the licenced shooters a target for unwarranted attention from those outside of our laws. 

Australia the lucky country is far from it now, Victoria has members of the Police force killed in the line of duty, Melbourne is facing enormous challenges from negative members of the community. It was the case that VIC Police were the strictest and most respected across the services. All Police members face daily significant challenges, we may whinge about a traffic ticket or complain about response times but without Police who is there when violence comes. Cops do a great job. 

Government will as they have done in the past target those who they can control, the licensed firearm owner. 

Those of us that did the right thing during the Unsworth administration handing in firearms as requested didn't curb the violence in our country just stalled the inevitable of 2025. 

We cannot change the Government or challenge the laws that govern us what we an do it strengthen our position as law abiding citizens and grow our sports to maintain the longevity of firearm ownership in this country. Grow each sport by 20 competitors a year our population is growing but sports are not.  

We have competitors in the west that are continually confronted with challenges from being a firearm owner, benchrest competitors find it extremely difficult to find ranges to compete on. 

Personally I think in the not to distant future those firearm owners that do not have an actual place to hunt will require discipline participation accumulate the required shoots to keep their licences and firearm ownership. 

Increase your sport, increase your membership, increase your participation. 

Have your say. 

Good shooting to all 

Les Fraser 

HOF 36