How to vote pro-gun in the NSW election
There is a general election in NSW on Saturday 25 March and while firearms has not been a hot electoral issue there are still a number of pro-shooting parties and candidates who, as a politically committed gunman (you Are politically engaged, aren’t they?) are worth paying attention to.
In no particular order we have:
The riflemen, fishermen and farmers party: They’ve been around for a long time, run for board elections, are open to shooting (even on their behalf) and are still considered an established mainstream political party despite some well-publicized internal issues of late.
The SFF holds seats in the Upper House that have been vital to the interests of the shooters, and one of them is up for re-election this time: party leader Robert Borsak. Losing that seat can be a serious blow to hunting interests.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation: After years of confusion and mixed messages regarding its stance on firearms in NSW, the party has taken a clear pro-shooter and hunters’ stance through its new policy on the issue. This is excellent news for shooters and shows that political parties recognize the contribution that shooters and hunters make to NSW.
Liberal Democrats (LDP): The LDP has long had a pro-gun stance; Its Freedom Manifesto specifically states that hunting, sport, and self-defense are legitimate reasons for owning firearms and that licensed shooters do not pose potential criminals or a threat to public safety.
Phil Donato: Phil is the current Orange MP and is running for re-election as an independent after leaving the SFF. His pro-gun views are well known and he is a great friend of shooters.
Roy Butler: Roy is the current MP for Barwon and is also running for re-election as an independent after leaving the SFF. Like Phil Donato, he is open about firearms and has been an active advocate for riflemen and rifle clubs among his constituency.
NSW is a big place and there are undoubtedly candidates for shooting pros running for both houses. A full list of all candidates for the 2023 NSW Election can be found here.
We at Athletic shooter We’re not going to tell you how to vote, but we hope by providing relevant information you can make an informed choice on Election Day.
No party or candidate with a realistic chance of being elected will be perfect when it comes to firearms. They’re either not gun-friendly enough for some people’s liking, or they have policies in other areas that you might disagree with.
This is the current political reality in Australia and must be taken into account when making voting decisions.
Remember, the only person who controls your voice is you. NSW uses optional preferential voting for both House of Commons and House of Lords candidates, which means you only need to number as many candidates as you like to produce a ranking.
For the House of Lords, you can choose above the line (essentially by party) or below the line (selection of individual candidates).
We recommend that you number each and every box on your House of Commons ballot to ensure your vote doesn’t get “exhausted” and suggest that you do the same if you’re over the line on the House of Lords ballot for the same reason decide by vote.
Make your vote count – unless you want NSW to end like Western Australia.