Push to legalise pepper spray and Tasers after Eurydice Dixon's murder
A Victorian MP has called for Tasers and pepper spray to be made legal to carry in the wake of the Melbourne murder of comedian Eurydice Dixon.
Jeffrey Bourman, MP for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, intends to push through a motion in Parliament that would give “everyone the option to defend themselves against a stronger and probably more experienced attacker.”
Mr Bourman took to Facebook on June 19 to share an image of a document which referenced MP Lisa Neville and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, suggesting they are “afraid to walk the streets alone at night”.
“I want people to have the option of non-lethal methods of self defence such as pepper spray and stun guns,” he wrote.
He says his mission is to “ensure that the government allows all reasonable and practical methods of self defence”.
Pepper spray, also known as capsicum spray, is a “prohibited weapon” in Victoria while it is illegal to use “any article designed or adapted to discharge an offensive, noxious or irritant liquid.”
The ownership and use of Tasers is also prohibited in Victoria.
Western Australia is the only state which allows the general public to possess capsicum spray which may be used on “reasonable grounds”.
Mr Bourman’s suggestion sparked considerable debate online, with social media users divided over the proposed motion.
One user suggested if pepper sprays were to be legally introduced to the streets, the next suggestion would then be lethal weapons.
“Sounds like the start of a slippery slope down to where the gun lobbyists want us to be – carrying guns for self defence,” one comment read.
Others praised Mr Bourman’s suggestion and said they were all for it.
“I’m in, where do we sign? ’Bout time, we need to be able to legally defend ourselves like they can in other countries,” one user wrote.
Mr Bourman’s post comes after budding comedian Eurydice Dixon was raped and murdered earlier this month.
She was farewelled at a private funeral last week while over 10,000 people attended a moving vigil at Princes Park in Carlton North.
Her alleged killer, Jaymes Todd, 19, is due to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in October.
