Media Release

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter was a lone ranger in Parliament last night, moving a Disallowance Motion in the House of Representatives against the ban on importation of shotguns with a capacity of more than five rounds.

The Adler A110 shotgun gained publicity recently over its ability to shoot eight shots in eight seconds using a lever-action mechanism. But Mr Katter said in his speech to Parliament last night that his position was not solely about the Adler firearm and that the right to bear arms centered around defending one’s home, one’s castle.

“When we say the right to bear arms, some conjure up spectres of revolution, but I do not,” Mr Katter said.

“I conjure up spectres of my home. I look out at my backyard and I see beautiful gum trees and paintings from artists that I love. I see the grass on my little football oval and my pointer dogs hopping around.

“I think this is my home. I have a right to defend my home. No-one should take away from me the right to defend by home.

“At the end of the day the gun debate is a philosophical question; it is about whether you believe that the individual should have the power, or whether the Crown should have the power.

“In Australia, the only people with the right to bear arms are the people in uniforms and it’s pretty scary when the only people with the right to bear arms are the people in uniforms.”

Mr Katter also vehemently defended his position on guns in light of his relationship with the importer of the Adler shotgun, saying that was not going to muzzle him.

“I didn’t become a gun man just because my son-in-law is involved, I’ve always been the strongest gun proponent in the country, most certainly in the Parliament.

“I’m not just concentrating on the Adler, this is part of the ongoing battle, if it’s not the Adler today it will be something else tomorrow.

“Every single one of these laws and prohibitions that come in are backed by the National Party, who should be thinking about their rural electorates.

“And all in the interest of scaredy-cat people in the cities who have never seen a gun in their lives and are terrified by them,” Mr Katter said.