A SEARCH of the Richmond and surrounding towns’ postcode of 2753 revealed a 31.5 per cent jump in gun ownership. That’s 2887 registered firearms or 0.17 guns per person in that area.
But for the Windsor and surrounding towns postcode of 2756, that figure jumps to 35.5 per cent, which is a breathtaking 6410 registered firearms or 0.41 guns per person in the region.
NSW Police Firearms commander Mick Plotecki said anecdotally the combination of US popular gun culture and a recruitment drive by gun clubs may be behind the rise.
Kurrajong Pistol Club president Jim Telfser somewhat agrees, blaming film and television for the recent spike in gun ownership. However he hasn’t seen a spike in interest or membership of his club.
“I think there are too many movies and garbage on television that get people a bit excited,” Mr Telfser said.
“These people just do the minimum; they fill out the paperwork and get a licence to buy a rifle, but their attitudes are crazy.”
Mr Telfser said that while he hadn’t seen an increase of membership or requests to join his club, he did point out it was harder to get a pistol licence as opposed to a rifle licence.
He said the practice and training to join a pistol club could sometimes take up to a year, and most people don’t have the patience for it.
He believes the increase in gun ownership reflects more those wanting an easier licence, and said he fears some of these people simply won’t have the right attitude.
He believes tighter licensing laws wouldn’t make a difference, but harsher penalties for law breakers might.
“Making it harder to get a licence won’t make a difference,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s like hoons, we don’t know why they drive that way, why they take the risks they take.
“It’s the same with guns, some have a crazy attitude.
“I think there needs to be harsher penalties for people who are caught doing the wrong thing with guns.
“At the moment if someone gets caught with an unlicensed firearm, not much is really done about it.”
More than 850,000 firearms are now legally registered in NSW. Alarmingly, in 22 of the state’s 600 postcodes, registered guns outnumber people.
This includes four postcodes where guns outnumber people two to one.
