If the newspapers are to be believed Firearms Registry told some clubs that Edwards was not to have access to a pistol.

Did the Registry warn other clubs, were the SSAA warned?

Did FAR 'red flag' Edwards?

Why did FAR issue him with a licence and then issue Permits to Purchase?

The fact that one has a licence doesn't allow one to purchase a firearm, every purchase must be on a Permit to Acquire issued for each separate purchase by the Registry.

Issy, if it is proved the FAR have been as negligent as the SSAA have been in this matter, then they too can face the firing squad (figuratively speaking) along with the SSAA and any others as well.

Paul1405,
What on Earth are you on about ? Now you're even disputing questions ? Take a break old girl !
Dead is dead, gun or no gun. All I'm asking is for figures on how many murders had no gun involved. I tried to Google it but couldn't get an answer. Guns don't murder people, they're used by good people to kill & by bad people to murder.

Paul and Stelle,

Your desire for collective punishment of those who were not involved shews a commitment to Bolshevism and other anti-democratic regimes that set you apart from the "Fair Go" ethos of most Australians.

Hi there IS MISE and PAUL1405...

It would appear prima facie the Registry has failed badly with this individual. By not maintaining their standards, unequivocally failing to establish the applicants bona fides, and thoroughly checking his criminal antecedents; all of which have obviously declined since my time there. And as I said earlier, this fellow wouldn't have had, a snow balls chance in hell, of ever receiving a Licence for anything.

By no means am I attempting to raise any kind of defence for the F/A's Registry; however they're always 'flat out' busy, with phones ringing, and the sheer volume of Licences awaiting processing and final approval. Moreover most of the staff are Public Servants, with the few police available, actually placing their imprimatur on the successful applicants and arguing the toss with those they've actually declined. When I was a sergeant there, staff levels were always below strength, thus allowing the occasional mistake to occur.

As disingenuous as my remark may seem, this tragedy has been a wakeup call for all those involved in issuing an 'authority' for people to do anything that's mandated by law, of the vital importance of due diligence with all applicants. Otherwise a simple failure, may have catastrophic consequences.

o sung wu,

The Registry has been understaffed and underfunded for years; cynics have said that the move to Murwillumbah was an exercise of 'out of sight, out of mind'.