Develop a new WA Recreation Association - Fight for Rights

We have been forced into a position between a rock and a hard place, but remember this, we are many and we are determined.

This Go-fund me is a start up for creation of an organization born from the need to hold our current and future elected and unelected parts of government to account, bring them back to task, a government not for itself but for the people!!!

There is a call for greater representation of WA firearm owners who are currently being victimised by a government that does not recognise its role to assure appropriateness, fairness and equity in the development of legislation.

The unfortunate truth is that the bulk of firearm licence holders in WA are recreational in nature, not club members. Even as a recognised and significant segment of the WA shooting community they have no formal representation to government, and they have been held at arm’s length by government / police and existing shooting organisations in respect of any opportunity to engage in consultation from a rural / farmer / private recreation / feral pest control perspective.

Recreational firearm owners are the core group fighting to keep feral pest numbers down, they are law abiding, responsible and ethical members of the Western Australian community.

Any claim or statement suggesting that they (or any lawful firearm owner) are somehow a broad threat to society cannot be supported factually, any argument in support of these false statements is a blatant fabrication intended to generate anti-gun emotion within our community.

The 2024 Firearms legislation has been rammed through by an arrogant government, it has not been reviewed and overall, the process to comply with the new legislation is convoluted to an extreme, the primary goal of government was to design legislation that forces dispossession of lawfully held private property by private citizens, nothing less.

There is no commitment to fair compensation or other remedy to cover financial loss to the individuals effected (including the practical loss of associated equipment) and there is no argument to substantiate or support that introduction of this legislation offers greater levels of public safety.

That statement is nothing more than a slogan being used to assist normalisation of the untruths.

The new legislation and licencing processes have failed in so many ways; it is simply a very expensive catastrophe that has no real-world need or basis and it is simply not required in such a degrading and complicated structure.

Anyone fighting this mess is strongly supported by us no matter how they are doing it, but we can make our efforts substantially more effective if we work together, synchronise and unite. The simplest of team philosophies.

What is the proposal?

A group of 4 western Australian residents and concerned members of our community have taken a position to kick-start this ground-up association and test the waters as to the potential broader appetite of the WA firearm and recreation communities to stand together and fight for your freedoms and rights to (appropriately) undertake recreational activities with minimum government control and intervention.

Meet the interim team:

Louise Kingston:

Current MP and architect of the idea to form an overarching body like the WA speedway Commission

Mark Else:

Mark and Sam Afterwork & ELR shooting videos

Steve Harrison:

Shooters Union WA Advocate / Ex WAPOL / Recreational Shooter

Nick Tonkin:

Administrator and firearm license holder advocate

What do we want to achieve as a stage 1 outcome:

• Achieve a strong financial support base to fund the proposal

• Invite suggestion as to the association name

• Commence building the administration of the association upon achieving a financially sound position

• Employ staff and thereby ensure business continuity

• Develop a constitution

• Undertake registrations to achieve legal status

• Open bank account/s

• Develop a membership management database

• Create a structure of individual membership with voting rights and associate membership clubs/associations/groups with no voting rights

• Ensure the openness of the funds accounts on a regular basis by publishing details to members

What does it look like:

It is envisaged that the association will be structured with a minimum of three Chairpersons/Commissioners. Major approving/passing decisions will require a majority vote between the Chairpersons/Commissioners

Below the Chairpersons/Commissioners will be three portfolios, each Chairperson/Commissioner will be the lead of one portfolio.

The initial portfolios are suggested as:

• General administration and membership management

• Lobbying, research and legal action/processes administration

• Media, activities and education development and coordination

Every financial member will have one vote, no associated members (other clubs and associations) will hold a vote

Litmus test:

This Go Fund Me provides the opportunity for the entire recreational community to show their commitment and build a new and freshly focussed association in Western Australia.

This need to be started a quickly as possible in order to get to work on building and activating this concept.

There are no recreational activity type limitations in respect of joining us, we welcome any recreational disciplines, but at this time, you contribute on the basis that you know that our first challenge will be to bring logical change to the 2024 Firearms Act and Regulations.

We are excited at the prospect of the association formally representing all recreational activities as we grow.