The Australian leaders behind the 1996 firearms reforms, which heavily tightened gun ownership laws, have written a strongly-worded open letter to two rural communities facing by-elections this weekend.
Former Prime Minister John Howard and his deputy at the time, Nationals leader Tim Fischer, signed off on a letter which will be distributed to voters in Murray and Cootamundra.
It warns of the dangers of voting for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, claiming their first priority would be to ‘fundamentally weaken our existing firearms laws, introduced by the Howard-Fischer government after the Port Arthur tragedy’.
‘We can’t take a risk on a party with such dangerous policies,’ the letter, published in The Daily Telegraph and written by Mr Howard, reads.
Former Prime Minister John Howard has signed off on a strongly worded letter to voters in the seats of Cootamundra and Murray, warning them against voting for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
He, along with his former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer (pictured) were the architects of Australia’s tough gun laws following the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996
Martin Bryant, 28, hunted victims at the historic Port Arthur site, killing 35, including children, and wounding 18.
It was the worst mass shooting in Australian history. Less than six months later, a buy back scheme was in place and 1,000 guns had already been melted down.
By the end of 1997, states had passed gun reform laws to a national standard and 700,000 weapons were surrendered as part of the gun buy back scheme.
‘In June [1996], the Coalition, lead by myself and the Nationals’ Tim Fischer introduced the National Firearms Agreement which involved a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons,’ the powerful letter reads.
The letter (pictured) urged residents to vote for The Nationals, as a vote for the Shooters Party would be ‘dangerous’
Mr Howard, who penned the letter, said The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers approach to gun laws was dangerous in the context of ‘recent world events’ (pictured: At least 58 people were killed by gunman Stephen Paddock in Las Vegas on October 2)
Since the tightening of Australian gun laws in 1996 following Port Arthur (pictured are police hunting gunman Martin Bryant), Mr Howard says there have been no mass shootings in Australia
‘Since then, there have been no mass shootings in Australia.
‘In light of recent world events it is clear that these laws have worked well for our country.
‘Those with legitimate purposes can still access the firearms they need, including farmers and sporting shooters.
‘In other words, we got the balance right.’
Mr Howard warned against voting for Helen Dalton (pictured) as a member of the minor party. She poses a big threat to the National Party as she polled second behind outgoing Nationals candidate Adrian Piccoli
The former Prime Minister also advised against voting for Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Matthew Stradtmiller (pictured)
Mr Howard and Mr Fischer went on to advocate for Nationals candidates Steph Cooke and Austin Evans.
The pair claimed the candidates were more well-rounded than Helen Dalby and Matthew Stradtmiller from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.
‘In Steph and Austin, you have candidates that will represent you on all issues that affect you and your family — not just a single issue,’ the letter read.
A TIMELINE OF EVENTS AROUND PORT ARTHUR
1996
April 28 – Martin Bryant, 28, drives to Seascape Guesthouse and kills owners David and Sally Martin with a military-style semi-automatic rifle.
He then heads to Port Arthur historic site, where he has lunch at the Broad Arrow Cage before opening fire. Shooting with purpose, he hunts down victims as he moves through the cafe, gift shop, carpark and elsewhere around the site. He takes a hostage and drives back to the guesthouse where he holds siege throughout the night.
April 29 – Police surround the house and capture Bryant after an 18-hour standoff when the house catches fire and Bryant runs out with burns to his body.
Police announce 35 people were killed in the massacre and 18 wounded.
Reeling from the unprecedented killings – the worst mass shooting in Australian history – Tasmania’s political parties agree on an immediate tightening of gun laws.
April 30 – Bryant is charged with his first count of murder in a hospital bedside hearing.
May 1 – Nation’s political leaders lay wreaths at Port Arthur and attend memorial services. The newly elected prime minister, John Howard, deeply moved by the tragedy, promises to crack down on guns and introduce new laws.
May 5 – Bryant is transferred to Risdon Prison.
Pictured: Martin Bryant, the man behind the Port Arthur massacre. Bryant hunted his victims through the historic site, killing 35 and wounding 18
May 7 – Tasmania outlaws semi-automatic and military-style guns and magazines capable of holding more than five rounds.
May 10 – At a special summit convened by Mr Howard, federal, state and territory police ministers sign an agreement to introduce new uniform gun laws, including bans on types of semi-automatic and self-loading rifles and shotguns, and a stricter licensing regime. The federal government also plans a massive, publicly funded buyback scheme to take guns off the streets.
August 15 – Tasmania passes new federally aligned gun laws.
September 9 – Chief Justice William Cox orders Bryant to be arraigned.
September 30 – Bryant appears in the Tasmanian Supreme Court amid historic security precautions. He pleads not guilty to 72 charges which include 35 murder charges.
October 15 – The first 1000 surrendered guns are melted down and destroyed under new state laws.
November 7 – Bryant switches non-guilty plea to guilty on all 72 charges, including 35 murder charges. The move spares survivors from having to testify.
November 19 – In the Tasmanian Supreme Court Director of Public Prosecutions Damian Bugg, QC, details the gruesome details of Bryant’s murderous spree.
November 20 – The sentencing hearing continues. Defence lawyer John Avery says Bryant won’t say why he did it. Medical evidence reveals personality disorders and intellectual incapacity. Bryant admits he expects to die in prison.
November 22 – Chief Justice William Cox sentences Bryant to 35 life sentences for the murder charges and 37 sentences of 21 years for all other offences and orders he remain in prison for the term of his natural life.
1996-1997
– Successive states pass gun reform laws to a national standard. As part of gun buyback scheme 700,000 weapons are surrendered.
2002
– Further restrictions of firearms trafficking and handguns are brought in after a shooting spree at Monash University where a licensed pistol owner killed two students and wounded five more.