SSAA NSW

6 formed and will be chaired by an Assistant Commissioner of Police in the firearms space. SSAA NSW are included on this committee and the first meeting is being held in April. Non-Shooters and those opposed to shooting will be included on this committee, which ensures that all parties interested in private firearms ownership are represented. This will create an opportunity to demystify beliefs and promote our safety, training and legal compliance, while strengthening our call for evidence-based and red-tape- excluded firearms legislation. We believe that with SSAA NSW input, legislation can target criminal use while promoting the public safety and training that we already champion. NEW CONSTITUTION FOR CLG UNDERWAY WITH ADDITIONAL MEMBER DRIVEN CHANGES As we have identified with our efforts to modify legislation – it is better to advocate for removal of unintended consequences prior to legislation being enacted, rather than attempting to change it after enactment. This is what we consider should occur with our new Constitution. Our last Constitution engaged members with regional meetings and several redrafts, after a draft was produced. This was effective and fair, but what extra can be achieved by consultation before the first draft? We have to adopt a new Constitution. The Department of Fair Trading have directed that we convert to a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) rather than be an Incorporated Association. To this end we held a Constitution round table meeting some time ago for Branch Committees that had already expressed a need for change. Since then, we have held two Branch leadership zoom meetings that have included Constitution change on the agenda, where many questions were put to the attendees for input and direction. This feedback was invaluable to help inform the first draft of the CLG Constitution, with preparations now under way. OPPOSITION TO THE FIREARMS AND WEAPONS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (CRIMINAL USE) BILL I am really impressed with our membership and the positive support that you have provided for our important campaign against the negative consequences of this proposed Bill. The first draft of the Bill would negatively impact all lawful firearms owners, farmers and ordinary citizens. This campaign spanned 18 months of effort. For sustained commitment over this time, a long-term strategy was developed. We commenced by sending a memo to our membership advising of the proposed Bill and seeking member input. This was very successful with over 120 members opening their evening email, downloading and reading the proposed Bill and then writing back to us by 8am the next morning. Clearly, the proposed Bill had significant negative consequences that were quickly identified by our members. Those early 120 submissions qualified our members' disappointment in the Bill and set the path for our campaign against the negative impacts of the Bill. Many more submissions were received from members over the following weeks. Robert Borsak MLC, Philip for Orange), Lance Miller launch of the ePetition.

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