The WA government enacted the Firearms Act Reform 2024 on March 31.

These new laws have been dubbed the “strictest regulations of firearms anywhere in Australia” by WA Premier Roger Cook.

The new restrictions include tougher licensing, limitation of guns owned (five being the maximum), and certain classes of firearms now being prohibited.

Many owners and users of firearms being affected by these new laws say they have been left in the dark regarding information surrounding the restrictions.

Zaine Beaton, manager of Beaton Firearms in Maddington, says the government has enacted the new legislation poorly.

“While yes the legislations and regulations have been available for everyone to read, there hasn’t been any sort of media put out letting the average person know, in plain speak, ‘what does this mean for you?’ so there’s numerous ways that the government have fallen down on this issue,” he says.

WAFarmers president Steve McGuire believes the problem isn’t the law, it’s the laws not being enforced.

“So often we see these laws being changed, but what about enforcing the existing laws?”

He says he’s concerned about damage to crops and livestock, saying New South Wales is an example.

“There was a grain grower in New South Wales who bought himself a helicopter to shoot these pigs, as every year he was losing a million dollars to these pigs,” he says.

“Controlling these animals is going to be much more difficult with these new laws in place, and it’s going to cost us a lot more money.”

Mr McGuire believes there was insufficient communication with farmers and other rural workers regarding the process of changing the legislation.

“The government need to try with genuine consultation. Sit down and work with, support hunters and primary producers, and then come to an arrangement,” he says.

Mr Beaton says the shift into new legislation will create problems with owning guns, making it both needlessly expensive and increasingly hard on responsible gun owners.

“Farmers, who need these guns to ethically put down stock and control pests, not having access to these guns in a timely manner is going to leave serious financial consequences for these people’s livelihoods.”