Gun reform could impact business: Beretta
Australia could miss out on a major weapons manufacturing plant if stricter gun ownership restrictions including a ban on hand guns are introduced, gun makers say.
High-powered semi-automatic hand guns should be banned in Australia, Gun Control Australia has told a Senate inquiry.
Spokesman Roland Browne said hand guns were overlooked in 1996, when tough gun laws were brought in following the Port Arthur massacre.
"High-powered semi-automatic hand guns present a grave danger because of the fact they are so easily concealed, (and are) also firearms that frequently turn up in mass shootings especially in America, but also, for example, in Dunblane in Scotland," Mr Browne told the inquiry on Tuesday.
Beretta International plans to open a plant in Victoria, but would reconsider if legislative changes had an effect on its business models, general manager Greg Chan said.
"Beretta International is seriously considering locating a manufacturing plant here, in Victoria in particular," Mr Chan said.
"A company as big as Beretta and as old as Beretta would seriously look at Australia if they changed the legislation in an adverse way (and say) `why would they want to come here? Why would they want to build a massive facility here if that's going to affect us?"
Winchester Australia says its existing manufacturing business could also be affected if any legislation further restricts gun ownership in Australia.
"Any changes would obviously put our business at some sort of risk," sales and marketing manager Jeffrey Gordon said.
"We supply the domestic trade, law enforcement and also defence with ammunition and we currently employ 60 people in regional areas."
Gun manufacturers and consultants told the inquiry that processes already in place could be improved to prevent registered firearms being stolen and used to commit crimes.
"If you're worried about firearm theft, enforce the law that's already there," Mr Chan said.
Manufacturing consultants criticised Australia's existing registration processes.
"The quality of information gathered by most of the registries in Australia are pathetic," Beretta consultant Russell Pearson said.
National Firearm Dealers Association president Luca Scribani Rossi said responsibility for the management of firearm registries should be removed from police and passed to authorities responsible for operating and managing licensing systems.
