Police Ministers waste opportunity to ban semi-automatic handguns
AMA Vice -President, Dr Trevor Mudge, said today the Australasian Police Ministers' Council missed an opportunity to do the Australian community a big favour by not discussing a ban on semi-automatic handguns as 'prohibited weapons'.
Dr Mudge said firearm ownership and use are public health issues and the AMA supports legislation that restricts access to any firearm.
"There were 331 gun-related deaths in Australia in 2000, and many more gun-related injuries," Dr Mudge said.
"On top of this you have to add the social cost, the personal trauma, and the short- and long-term effects on families, loved ones and whole communities.
"Doctors have to deal with the physical and emotional harm caused by firearms, so any moves to minimise or eliminate the use of firearms will be supported by the medical profession.
"We have come a long way since the tragedy of Port Arthur in 1996, but we can and must do more.
"It is a fact that legislation that restricts access to firearms significantly reduces the morbidity and mortality associated with their use.
"It worked when semi-automatic rifles and shotguns were banned and we should now go the next step and ban semi-automatic handguns," Dr Mudge said.
AMA policy states that 'no persons, other than military and police personnel specifically authorised to carry such weapons, should be permitted to use automatic and semi-automatic weapons (including machine guns)'.
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