Irish Firearm owners to fight gun law changes :: 01/02/2015

Gun owners are preparing to fight proposed changes to the law despite Garda warnings of a mass shooting without tighter control on firearms.

The 120,000-strong lobby have promised a “firestorm” of resistance to any clampdown and have accused Garda management of “vindictiveness” in trying to limit the number and types of guns in circulation.

A review of firearms licensing is under way, with separate public consultations begun by the Department of Justice and the Oireachtas justice committee.

The former has already bowed to pressure from the gun lobby to extend the deadline for submissions by six weeks, although 80 replies were already received by the original deadline.

The latter, which has a January 9 deadline, is so concerned by the strength of feeling that it is expected to hold public hearings on the issue.

Gardaí told the justice minister they want a ban on almost all handguns currently licensed to sports and hunting enthusiasts, as well as vets and pest controllers.

There are fewer than 2,000 legal handguns in Ireland, a fraction of the 200,000 legally held firearms, but gardaí fear them falling into criminal hands.

Ireland has the third-highest rate of killings by firearms per capita in Europe, a rate seven times higher than in Britain. More than 350 guns were reported stolen last year and a further 53 reported lost.

Gardaí also want to ban shotguns that hold more than three rounds, and all semi-automatic centre-fire rifles.

Gardaí warned the latter was used in the killing of 69 people in Norway in 2011 and in the killing of 20 children and six staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the US two years ago.

“Such firearms should not be licensable as they pose an unacceptable danger to society,” said gardaí.

The recommendations have sparked anger among the nine main national shooting groups, which have formed a coalition to oppose them.

Spokesman Des Crofton said the proposals were the most draconian, far-reaching, and vindictive ever. “There is a history here of malfides towards firearms licence holders and it is palpable,” he said. “This vindictiveness is driven by gardaí at senior level.”

He said gardaí were refusing to grant licences, lodging objections when the refusals were appealed in court and, in over 90% of cases, losing.

Chief Supt Fergus Healy, who co-chaired the group which made the recommendations, said they were driven purely by public safety concerns.

“It is acknowledged that the majority of certified firearms owners are of impeccable character and integrity,” he said.

“However, An Garda Síochána is firmly of the view that the firearms designed for use for military and police purpose and currently licensable within the State pose a potentially devastating and lethal risk to the community.”

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/firearm-owners-to-fight-gun-law-changes-304872.html