Australia Authorizes Army To Shoot Civilians

American Handgunner, Jan, 2001 by Cameron Hopkins

Having disarmed its citizens of lawfully owned firearms, the government of Australia has now passed the Defense Legislation Amendment Bill 2000 (Aid To Civilian Authorities) which gives the Australian army the authority to use "reasonable and necessary force" to suppress civilian unrest. The definition of "reasonable and necessary force," it goes without saying, is left up to the government.

The bill also grants the army authority to enter buildings without a warrant, cordon off areas, erect barricades and stop vehicles to search them without a warrant. The bill specifically authorizes the army to use lethal force against civilians when there are "reasonable grounds," a condition that the government decides.

Prime Minister John Howard dismisses critics of the bill as overreacting. He alleges that the purpose of the bill is to combat terrorism and that the "shoot to kill" authorization is not intended for use during peaceful civil demonstrations. Green Party and Democrat politicians are opposed to the new law.

It has now been three years since Australia outlawed semiauto shotguns and rifles. Since that time, over 650,000 firearms banned by the government have been rounded up and destroyed. But is Australia any safer? Homicides have increased 3.2 percent, assaults have jumped 8.6 percent and burglaries have skyrockted 44 percent.