Nick Harvey the Technical Editor of Sporting Shooter Magazine has been caught out 2 weeks before the 20th anniversary of the Port Arthur Massacre by writing to the Daily Telegraph supporting the John Howard 1996 gun reforms.

In his article dated April 12th 2016, Harvey concedes;

One good thing that Howard’s gun laws did achieve, however, was to ensure that idiot shooters (obviously there were a few) could no longer get their hands on semi-auto and assault-type weapons. Prior to the law being enacted this country was flooded with Russian and Chinese-made SKS and SKK assault rifles and millions of rounds of cheap ex-military ammunition. Genuine sport shooters and hunters have no need for this type of firearm.

Firstly, Harvey says there were a lot of shooters who were idiots and can no longer get their hands on semi automatic firearms. One would think that if a shooter is not a fit and proper person then they should not have access to any firearms, no matter what the action type.

Secondly,  Harvey says that there was a flood of Chinese and Russian made SKS firearms in Australia and cheap ex-military ammunition. My answer is so what? Is military ammunition some how more dangerous than regular ammunition? Isn’t all ammunition made to a safe standard worldwide?

Before the 1996 gun laws people could buy what they could afford. People got into the sport for mateship, hunting, shooting, and to enjoy themselves. The sport is not be governed by the fact that people cannot afford expensive rifles therefore they have no business getting into the shooting sports. The shooting sports is all about making it as inclusive as we possibly can for everyone, for whatever reason.

Thirdly, Harvey shares his wisdom that “Genuine sports shooters or hunters have no need for these types of rifles”. Clearly Nick Harvey hasn’t been to New Zealand or many other countries around the world where these types of rifles are enjoyed by collectors, hunters and sports shooters. Clearly New Zealand gun owners must be idiots too, right nick? Some gun owners just want to own one because they like that firearm. What business or right does Nick Harvey have to tell what gun owners can and cant own? Those ideas are better left for authoritarian types bent on telling other people what to do.

Sporting Shooter Magazine consisting of Editor Marcus O’Dean and Publisher Jim Harnwell, clearly have no problem with Harvey’s comments. That’s because we haven’t heard a single whisper from them since the issue blew up on social media. One can only assume that “Uncle Nick” is one of the boys who has no interest in protecting gun rights in Australia.

For 20 years gun owners have fought long and hard to prevent further restrictions on gun ownership and to see some laws relaxed for the law abiding people who never done anything wrong. Nick Harvey’s comments have done irreparable damage to gun rights in Australia.

Since Sporting Shooter Magazine is silent on the fierce backlash they have been receiving, we can only assume they support Nick Harvey’s comments, a move that will not only cost them financially, but also in reputation.