SSAA NSW

10 Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 2018 Members Survey PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE Core priorities Looking to the future, members identified which of the five core operations they thought should be the priorities for SSAA NSW to pursue. The first priority of four out of 10 members (40%) was lobbying government to change firearm laws. Around three out of 10 (27%) gave their first choice to providing more access to shooting ranges while two out of 10 (21%) put promoting the shooting sports to the broader Australian public at the top of their list. Fewer than 10% thought that support for Branches and Affiliate Clubs or access to hunting should be the top priorities. Lobbying government Focusing on the challenge of lobbying government, members indicated their strong support for six different ways of influencing law-makers, with each activity gaining the support of at least 77% of members as either a top priority or high priority for the future. Most members recognised that the challenge begins with the media's influence on the attitudes of the general public. Seven out of 10 (68%) said that one of the top priorities of SSAA NSW should be managing media relations to ensure issues relating to legal firearms ownership are reported in a fair and balanced manner. A majority of members also endorsed working with authorities to bring about change. Two-thirds (66%) wanted to see SSAA NSW give a top priority to working with the Police Commissioner and bureaucrats responsible for developing firearms policy. Slightly fewer (62%) thought that working with the Firearms Registry to ensure fair application of firearms laws should be one of the main priorities. Direct action was seen as a top priority by fewer members. Half (50%) identified as a top priority the idea of running a public relations campaign among the general public about the positive aspects of the shooting sports, recreational hunting and firearms ownership. Around the same number (47%) wanted to see SSAA NSW run a campaign among members to get them to vote at the state election on the issue of firearms laws, while 45% thought getting more people elected to State Parliament on a platform of reduced firearms regulation should be on the top priority list. 40% 27% 21% 9% 8% 23% 20% 27% 16% 13% Lobbying government to change firearms laws Providing access to shooting ranges Promoting the shooting sports to the broader Australian public Supporting Branches and Affiliate Clubs to build membership Providing access to hunting opportunities, including training Preferences for SSAA NSW Priorities Second priority First priority 29% 21% 42% 39% 12% 17% 4% 5% 12% 19% SSAA NSW Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Effective at influencing government on firearms laws Very effective Effective Not very effective Not effective No opinion/Dont know 16% 8% 43% 30% 24% 27% 4% 14% 0% 3% 13% 17% SSAA NSW Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Image of firearms organisations Very positive image Positive image Neutral image Negative image Very negative image Don't really know 22% 38% 37% 1% 1% Much too restrictive Too restrictive About right Should be more restrictive Don't know General views on firearms laws

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