Law-abiding firearm owners turned out in huge numbers to attend a firearms forum hosted recently by The Nationals WA at the Kalamunda Community Centre.
The event garnered such significant interest the venue had to be changed to accommodate over 200 registrations.
Nationals’ federal candidate for the new electorate of Bullwinkel Mia Davies MP joined Leader of the Opposition Shane Love, candidate for the state electorate of Kalamunda Lisa Logan and Senator Bridget McKenzie to present The Nationals’ view on the Government’s flawed reforms.
Ms Davies said the turnout was indicative of the frustration felt by law-abiding gun-owners across the State in the wake of the Labor Government’s legislation.
“Minister Papalia has treated this community with complete disdain, painting them as criminals and people to be feared,” she said.
“His view of the world couldn’t be further from the truth. Gun owners are Olympians, volunteers in our community, business owners, friends, colleagues and family – not the enemy.”
Leader Shane Love said the fact that The Nationals WA had drawn a crowd of over two hundred people in the Perth metropolitan area showed that the Party’s stance was resonating with many people disappointed with the State Labor Government.
“There are over 95,000 law-abiding gun owners in Western Australia, and every single vote will make a difference at this next State election,” he said.
“My message is to back the team that will repeal Labor’s legislation and go back to the drawing board to create balanced laws in consultation with stakeholders.”
After presentations from each of the Members and candidates, and State President of the State Shooters Association of Australia (WA) Paul Fitzgerald, questions and comments were taken.
State candidate for Kalamunda Lisa Logan said voters in the Hills and Perth metropolitan area could vote for The Nationals WA at the upcoming State and Federal elections for the first time.
“As someone who has called the Perth Hills home for most of my life, I am delighted The Nationals are contesting metropolitan seats like Kalamunda,” Ms Logan said.
“We are a Party of local champions and common-sense solutions, and we put people and community before politics. That’s very appealing to people like firearms owners whose needs have been sidelined by this new legislation.”
Senator Bridget McKenzie, convenor of the Federal Parliament’s ‘Parliamentary Friends of Shooting’ said she was very encouraged by the reception in Kalamunda.
“As a law-abiding firearm owner myself, it is fantastic to be in Kalamunda with The Nationals’ candidate for Bullwinkel Mia Davies, a great supporter of the firearm community, and someone that I’m extremely excited to support on her march to Canberra.
“The West needs a leader like Mia in Canberra to stand up for your interests, and we know that with her experience, with her passion and fight for this great state, she’ll be able to hit the ground running if the good people of Bullwinkel choose to make her their local member.”
