"CONNECT THE GUNS": … but where's the evidence?

THREE YEARS AGO Western Australian shooters found themselves at the centre of the “Connect the Guns” controversy. Maps showing where firearm owners live were published across the state and public safety concerns were cited as part of the broader debate surrounding firearms reform. Gun News Australia recently lodged a Freedom of Information request seeking documents relating to firearms stolen from licensed owners before and after the maps were stolen to see what the actual level of firearm theft was. The response we received did not conclude that such incidents never occurred. Nor did it make any finding about the overall impact of firearm theft. However, WA Police advised that no documents could be located within the scope of the request. That raises an important question. If firearm theft and criminal misuse were significant factors in the push for major legislative change, where is the documented evidence supporting those claims? In this episode we revisit the original “Connect the Guns” article, examine the concerns raised by shooters at the time, review the FOI response, and discuss why evidence matters when governments seek major changes to public policy. If you'd like to support more FOI work, investigations and accountability reporting, consider joining our email list and supporting Gun News Australia through Patreon. #GunNewsAustralia #WesternAustralia #FirearmsLaw #FOI #FreedomOfInformation #PaulPapalia #LicensedShooters #PublicSafety #FirearmsPolicy #GunLaws