School kids licenced to shoot in Victoria
New figures reveal hundreds of Victorian school children as young as 12 years old are being granted gun licences.
At just 13 years old, Billy Johnston is one of a growing number of adolescents who are legally allowed to shoot, but not own a gun.
“When I was old enough to shoot, I tried a gun for the first time and I just loved it,” he said.
“The kids that use them, they shoot really well, they don’t use it immaturely.”
Of the 1,028 gun licenses approved in metropolitan areas last year, more than 270 were granted for young people aged between 12 and 14 years old.
A further 279 were granted to applicants between 17 and 18 years old.
Parents of young shooters argue this is a genteel Olympic sport, and one that is far safer than football.
“Well, he's not going to get knocked in the head shooting,” Billy’s father Darryl said.
“The worst thing is he might get a tap on the cheek if he doesn’t get the gun mounted properly, that’s about it.”
“No push to change because at the moment each state allows shooting down to 11, 12 [years old],” Gun Control Australia’s Roland Browne said.
“Some states have no minimum age – in WA, a five-year-old can use a gun.”
The anti-gun lobby is concerned about the promotion of shooting as a family sport.
“I have grave doubts that a child under the age of 18 can be adequately trained how to use a gun,” Browne said.
“The younger you teach people to do things properly, the better it is… the good habits will last a lifetime,” Jack Wegman from the Sporting Shooters’ Association said.
Under the watchful eye of his father, young licenced shooter Billy has his sight firmly set on winning an Olympic gold medal.
