EUROBODALLA shooters have welcomed changes to NSW Government firearms legislation and believe it will breathe new life into an aging sport.
For Bryson Payne, and many like him, the Batemans Bay shooting range offers a sporting and social opportunity that would otherwise be hard to come by.
With 530 members at last count, the Batemans Bay branch of the Sporting Shooters Association (SSA) is by no means struggling for membership – but it is crying out for new blood.
“To get to an Olympic standard, you have to start young,” said Mr Payne, who is the association’s president.
The changes, which came into effect on Wednesday, will provide greater opportunities for newcomers interested in taking up shooting sports. The new laws include a provision that allows unlicensed people to try the sport, under the supervision of a licensed instructor, and the removal of a 28-day waiting period for the purchase of a second or subsequent firearm for those who are already registered.
“Before the legislation juniors had to get permits which could sometimes be a three month process – even just to try the sport out!” Mr Payne said. “The kids lost interest before they finished the application process.
“However, now they can come and give it a go to see if they like it without all the cost and hassle.”
Mr Payne said that while the new changes were logical, they were a long time coming. However, now that they have gone through, he hopes more people will take an interest in the sport.
“Australia has a fine tradition when it comes to the shooting sports, highlighted by past Olympic Games’ success,” he said.
“Future Olympians don’t just sprout up overnight. It takes years of training and dedication. Hopefully these new laws will go some way toward promoting the sport to a future generation of champions.”
Since 1992, the SSA’s Bay branch has gone from strength to strength. People travel some distances to utilise its range, which is known for its first-class facilities.
“We have a lot of NSW and championship shoots here,” Mr Payne said. “Moving forward we would like to see more juniors coming through – and hopefully some of them will have the talent to compete at an Olympic standard.”