PERSONAL NOTE after the BONDI TERRORIST ATTACK 14/12/2025 and about MY HUNTING LIFE

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1/ My sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones, or been injured... and a huge thank you to ALL the People and First Responders who acted bravely and swiftly to help others in the line of fire and afterwards.

We all wish this act of terrorism directed at the Australian Jewish community was prevented by surveillance and prior interception of such criminal persons intending horrendous acts. We all know why this happened. Australia's shores are vast and vulnerable, yet like many other countries this hate cancer now comes from within.

 

2/ It is indescribably sad that our Australian Prime Minister has announced to blame and attack all good law abiding Australian gun owners by suggesting a review on reducing licensed firearm numbers. Punishing people who were not involved. A knee jerk reaction, to waste mega millions (example $400million plus) of tax payers dollars, to crush good gear, divert hundreds of officers off the street, so hunters and shooters can spend $350million on different firearms, or 4x4s, bikes or boats. My WW2 serving parents would roll in their graves, knowing our freedoms are attacked within.. on our own shores, by the leader we thought we could trust. Simply indescribable.

 

I live in NSW (and work flying in out of remote NT), at home my personal interest and sport is recreational shooting, hunting and vermin control. There are tens of 1000s of good law abiding people like me. WE have tough state firearms laws in place right now, they just need to be enforced properly..  they just need to be enforced properly. 

 

I have a 22lr rifle for practice and small game, a heavier weight 17hmr rifle for longer shots on rabbits, a 223 sporter rifle for foxes on medium properties, and kangaroos (min legal required caliber), a 243HB rifle for day and spotlighting longer shots on foxes, wild dogs and feral cats, often across small valleys and undulations where wind is often a factor, a $15,000 custom made 7x57 rifle ideal for Fallow deer, a 3006 ultra light rifle for carrying after feral pigs, Rusa deer, a 300WSM rifle for Sambar deer at medium and longer range (also overseas mountain hunts), a 405 Lever action for the above medium game when stalking very slow in heavy bush, and fast reloading, as game in heavy thickets can jump and run fast. I have an old hammer 12g shotgun that is a unique antique to enjoy and practice on clay targets, and a lovely Over and Under 12g shotgun for times when rabbits are running, and for bird hunting, and recreational clay practice. Because I have worked hard all my life, nearing retirement and a good proud citizen, I have also saved up for some collectable type firearms that I also use.  I have a 375H&H and a custom $18,000 404 Jeffery rifle that I will use on Scrub bull, Water Buffalo, Banteng, and enjoy important practice for my NT job.. these have also been overseas to Africa, where I visit every few years, on plains game and big game. So, you will see I have more than 10 firearms. I also enjoy reloading my ammo to gain best accuracy and selected bullets for the game. Like all of us, I have a use and need for each of these rifles and shotguns. It is my sport and recreation, my life. 

 

Last week we hunted 2 Sambar deer for freezer and table, this is normal for me and my hunting friends and all recreational shooters, who hunt on farms and public land... (all over Australia for vermin that kill and eat young stock, chickens, birds, lambing ewes, calving cows or weak stock, damaging fences and eating / damaging food crops, plus I love taking game meat and venison that is consumed by us every week or so.  OZ is bigger than Western Europe, and as big as the USA so plenty of room, with millions of vermin and game, and farmers welcome us. Shooters, farmers and hunters do 98% of ongoing vermin control for no charge to taxpayers, and the Govt spends multi millions (of your taxes) on helicopter contractors.  Many city-based hunters look forward to a great hunting day, weekend or trip away. That's what we do. Our guns and ammo are locked up, as per the law. We are not criminals, we are Australian citizens, paying taxes that employ politicians to help run Australia. So please represent us respectfully, our sports bodies, and industries are the experts, don't ignore us... and don't listen to anti hunters and groups (which are not gun users).. but some decide to be loud, and hate or dislike others. It's like a lamb chop to a vegan. I don't try ban a few vegans; I respect their choices. I don't advise or try ban dog racing, botox, trail bikes, golf, computer games, vaping, surfing, hang gliding, 4x4s, fishing, football etc etc.. all Australian life and activities... as it's not my interest, correct, it's not my business. Normally we go about our business quietly, but sorry, today we must speak up. As a lifelong licensed law abiding shooter,,, I don't do drugs, steal stuff, poach, hide unlicensed guns, drive drunk, or start street fights. 

 

The current gun laws in each state, are already tough. Please don't treat us like terrorists, with deliberate unworkable laws, insult me with buy backs, and destroy our hard earned, taxed firearms and personal property, a government that does that is not a democratic government respecting its citizens.

The WA Labor Govt has recently smashed my good friends back there, over-riding proper review recommendations, and pushing through multiple restrictive gun laws, then used millions of your tax dollars to crush good quality expensive firearms. No respect for the users. The trust is gone. Those laws will return to normal one day.

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The 1996 buyback, saw $304m in (new) taxes to buy back licensed sporting autos, pump shoties at market value (and some unused guns) to crush them, (to reduce mass shootings) then we shooters used the peoples Tax dollars to buy $250m of brand-new firearms that we still have in use today.

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We have 7 state Firearms registries with all licensed firearms listed, and already communicating as required between states. Done. However yet another incredible waste was the invented idea of a national firearms register.. doing it all over again and again, costing $20m or $30m already, (some damn good office jobs, and contracts) and it will never ever ever be complete. It will not stop one crime. Soon it will be scrapped. Mean time once a year, just grab 7 flash drives off the 7 states firearm branches. Done. 

 

I am a life member of Safari Club International, a life member of SSAA, past founding member of SW Hunting & Conservation, a long term member of the Australian Deer Association, past founding member of the WA ADA branch, now a member of Hunter Valley ADA, a member of the International Professional Hunters Association. All these clubs and associations, promote training and safety, game management, vermin control, farm assist, income, meat utilization, and comradery amongst our members and others. Young people join and chose to learn respect, responsibility, meat use, and chose to become a good citizen for life.

 

DEAR POLITICIANS

Scrap proposed rushed, undebated, Christmas time knee jerk invented gun law changes. There is no need to limit licensed firearms, that will not stop one person intent on doing the next terrorist act, or has decided to do the next crime. Respect my life and tens of thousands of others with hunting and sporting shooter interests.. which are already regulated by the tough workable gun laws already in place. The law already has the power to stop importing undesirable firearms, and to not issue, or cancel licenses. A terrorist will still use an unlicensed gun, a bomb, a truck, a fire, an axe or knife.. Punishing me, will not stop him.

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(NOTE, I am speaking personally as an individual hunter, I am not speaking on behalf of any club or range shooters. These comments are separate to my NT company guiding business and work.)

 

Again, thank you hugely to all the Police who make us safe.

Thank you to the Agencies that need the funds and ability to protect Australians in this vast country.

Sorry for this letter, but this week I must speak up.

 

Regards,

Graham WILLIAMS, NSW​​​

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