Myths & Assumptions This page deals with myths and assumptions that characterise the gun debate. Our critics prefer to use simple generalisations because they are easy to use and grab attention. Many who criticise us have never been to a shooting range. Guns are made for many different purposes. Shooting is much safer than most people would think. Myth: All guns are designed to kill people Fact: Target guns are designed specifically for target shooting using relatively low velocity ammunition. They are generally large, bulky, barely concealable and useless for any purpose other than target shooting. Many of them are single shot guns that have no other application. Similarly, hunting rifles are designed for ducks, rabbit or other game. The author of the website has only air rifles which are clearly not capable of being used to kill people. Myth: Shooters are in reality, practising how to kill Fact: Those involved in the shooting sports and recreactions are amongst the most stable, most balanced and most disciplined sports people in Australia. This is because shooters are interested in their sport in the same way golfers are interested in theirs, and have no predisposition outside this. Suggesting a shooter practices to kill is like suggesting a golfer is practising mugging. Myth: Shooting is a dangerous sport Fact: There never been a fatality in any of the Olympic shooting sports in Australia because of the way shooting organisations run their events. The only fatality in any target sport happened in Victoria in 1903. No other sport on the Olympic calendar can boast the same safety record. Myth: Guns can be stored in gun clubs Fact: They don't have armouries, so how can you ? There is an underlying belief that clubs have armouries, and this is not the case. History has shown that those clubs that have had safes, get broken into by people looking for firearms. Storage in gun clubs would create a significant safety risk that no insurance company would touch. If you suggested they could be stored at Police stations, then each station would need to store at least 600 firearms and operate 24 hours a day. Myth: All illegal firearms start out as legal ones Fact: This overlooks the reason for the existence of the Australian Customs Service. This body employs 4,500 people, has boats, planes, and broad search and arrest powers - and there is a reason for this. The Australian Institute of Criminology has not performed a study on what is an obvious and critical piece of the jigsaw on the supply of illegal firearms. The underlying assumption that smuggling doesn't exist, is false. Myth: Shooters are red neck patriots who feel they need guns to defend their country Fact: These were the words of a now disgraced prominent psychologist who later admitted to having a cocaine habit when he made this statement. It is at direct odds with the cross section of the CFCV's membership. Many members have a professional background and tertiary qualifications. Myth: It is too easy to get a gun Fact: Getting a shooter's licence and subsequently obtaining a firearm of any sort is a lengthy process involving a detailed investigation by the Police of the applicants suitability as a fit and proper person to own and use a firearm. It often involves being fingerprinted, having character checks, not having any sort of criminal record and going through waiting periods. Anyone who thinks this is a quick and easy process is invited to try it for themselves. It may be significantly easier to obtain a firearm illegally (eg by mail order over the Internet), however this is a different matter entirely.