Shooters want gun-free zone in Victorian election

Victorian gun owners are against the upcoming gun buyback scheme, according to Sporting Shooters Victorian chief executive Jack Wegman. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the scheme on Sunday, which will commence in November. Currently, only Victoria is participating in the national gun buyback, following the Bondi terror attack.

Other states, including Queensland, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory, have declined to join. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas pledged not to tighten gun laws before his March election victory. Western Australian Premier requests no further gun schemes. Regional Victoria's new Premier Ben Carroll must decide on gun policy for the upcoming election.

Sporting Shooters Victoria opposes tougher gun laws, stating a "fair go" for legal gun owners. The group argues a cap on guns is illogical because larger collections often have better storage. Anti-violence organizations, like the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, support the scheme and urge states to tighten laws. Wegman criticized Albanese for politicizing the aftermath of a tragedy but praised Allan for avoiding a knee-jerk reaction.