Federal MPs from both sides of the political divide have pledged to protect John Howard's legacy through the establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Gun Control.
Liberal John Alexander, who occupies Mr Howard's former seat of Bennelong, and Labor's Andrew Leigh have formed the group just weeks after the issue of guns was thrust back into the political spotlight via the uproar over the lever-action Adler shotgun.
More News Videos
John Howard calls for strengthened gun laws
The former Prime Minister and architect of Australia's current gun restrictions made the comments following debate over the Adler shotgun.
The group was the idea of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, the charity established by Walter Mikac to honour his daughters, aged six and three, who were among the 35 people killed by Martin Bryant at Port Arthur in 1996.
A letter to all MPs and senators sent on Thursday noted that 80 per cent of Australians support strong gun laws and debate should be "informed by evidence and facts".
Mr Alexander, a former professional tennis player and commentator, said he had come to appreciate Australia's gun laws during the 14 years he lived in the US city of Atlanta.
"I had a dinner party and one of my American friends said, 'John, you've got to get a gun.' It turned out that I didn't know one person there who didn't own a gun," he said.
"I understand the need of people in regional areas [of Australia] to have certain types of rifles, but why would you need a gun in urban areas?"
Mr Leigh said: "The irony is not lost on me that a Labor MP is establishing a group that will defend the legacy of John Howard, but I think this is an important legacy of the Howard government and I think it's important to retain our gun laws, particularly against recent moves to water them down."
![Andrew Leigh: "It's important to retain our gun laws, particularly against recent moves to water them down."](/web/20161105003147im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/o/l/7/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsheg8.png/1478232001220.jpg)
The government was plunged into days of infighting recently when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appeared to leave the door ajar to demands by crossbencher David Leyonhjelm to loosen import restrictions on the high-capacity Adler shotgun.
The furore culminated with Mr Turnbull and his predecessor, Tony Abbott, at loggerheads on the floor of Parliament.
![Walter Mikac's charity, Alannah & Madeline Foundation, suggested the Friends of Gun Control group.](/web/20161105003147im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/0/y/t/u/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsheg8.png/1478232001220.jpg)
The letter to all parliamentarians from the Friends of Gun Control promises it will "make expert speakers available to members, senators and their staff, to ensure that the debate around gun control is informed by evidence and facts, and guided by the expectations and concerns of our communities".
Mr Leigh, who wrote a number of papers on gun control laws during his time at the Australian National University, said the Howard crackdown saved about 200 lives every year.
![John Alexander has formed the Friends of Gun Control group with Labor's Andrew Leigh.](/web/20161105003147im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/l/3/x/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsheg8.png/1478232001220.jpg)
Lesley Podesta, chief executive of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, said the parliamentary group would help guard against complacency on gun laws.
"Our country's response to Port Arthur, lead by John Howard and Tim Fischer, has been something our community has been rightly proud of. Our gun laws have kept us safer for almost two decades but now is no time to be complacent," she said.
40 comments
Comment are now closed