PANPA 2014 NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP
weekender the western FRI 7 AUG 2015 • Issue 1215
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
Printed on 100% recycled paper
B U S I N E S S T I PS
Panthers head north
Advice, tips and profiles on the best local businesses p.30-31
Gun ownership spikes Local suburbs experience significant growth in firearms licences JADE ALIPRANDI
@kade_aliprandi
Firearm ownership growth from 2010-2015
S
Battle of the West moves to Darwin Centre pull-out
Changing the world p.13 HISTORY Speedway crash left a horror mark on Penrith p.32
2750 2760
Postcode
uburbs in the Penrith Local Government Area (LGA) are experiencing a spike in gun ownership, with firearm laws again in the spotlight. Figures revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald this week show that a number of local suburbs in the Penrith LGA have experienced more than 40 per cent growth in registered firearms licences since 2010. There are more than 850,000 registered firearms in NSW. Penrith Greens Councillor, Michelle Tormey is concerned by the figures and says it’s important that we don’t go backwards with gun control. “Port Arthur was a terrible incident and it took the death of those people for the government to realise we needed stricter gun control in the country,” she said. “We have had success in lowering gun usage and controlling those who do own firearms – I just don’t want to see us go backwards.” Castlereagh has had the largest growth in firearm licenses from 2010 to 2015 with a 62.2 per cent hike, according to the Herald’s figures. Penrith is trailing closely behind with a growth of 49.1 per cent. Cr Tormey said there could be a number of reasons for the growth, including a spike in population in the area. “The Nepean area is progressive and the population has obviously grown in the last five years,” she said. Story continues on » p. 8
2747 2745 2749 2759
3,157
34.3%
total firearms
2,198 total firearms
32.7%
2,859
49.1%
total firearms
3,134
46.3%
total firearms
3,452 total firearms
1,563 total firearms
62.2%
41.3%
Figures revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald earlier this week on gun ownership
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