New Australian Law Would Reduce Museum Firearm Collection to ‘Metal Blobs’

Hundreds of years of firearms history is in jeopardy in Australia. (Photo: Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum Facebook)

Not satisfied with confiscating firearms from law-abiding Australian citizens, one province Down Under has passed a new regulation that would force museums to render their firearms “permanently inoperable.”

The New South Wales government passed the new policy in 2017, but museums are only beginning to realize the extent of its effects. The Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum (LSAFM) has begun to fight back, posting a petition online and garnering national and international media coverage.

According to the museum, the regulation would force the volunteer-led nonprofit to destroy 70 percent of its firearms collection and eventually shutter its doors.

“The move to render the weapons inoperable will sap the energy out of the museum and its volunteers, the authenticity of the museum would be destroyed,” Lithgow City Council member Stephen Lesslie told local media.

“If this matter is not rescinded then Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum will close.”

Lithgow City mayor Ray Thompson also pointed out that targeting museums, which are already required to implement strict security measures, won’t do anything to prevent gun-related violence.

“This new regulation is not going to make a difference to gun safety, the museum has relics in there and guns that have been there over a long period of time that are only for show, it’s ridiculous to think about putting lead in the barrels.

“It’s a museum, the whole thing is stupid.”

SEE ALSO: Australia’s New Buyback Program Yields 51,000 Guns Destined for Destruction

Prior to the new regulation, museums in New South Wales were only required to remove a firearm’s firing pin and maintain a “high standard of security,” according to the LSAFM petition.

Now, museums are required to make firearms “permanently inoperable” by inserting a steel rod down the barrel of the firearm, welding the muzzle and chamber, welding the barrel to the receiver, removing the firing pin and welding the hole, removing all internal springs, welding internal components and welding the bolt, magazine, external hammer and trigger in a fixed position.

“By doing this, the firearm will be reduced to a metal blob rather than a genuine firearm,” the LSAFM petition argues.

LSAFM’s Kerry Guerin pointed out to local media that even if a criminal managed to get past the museum’s security and steal a prohibited firearm, it’s anyone’s guess whether it would still be operable with an aftermarket firing pin.

“What must be remembered is that firearms in museums haven’t been used for years,” he said. “As any firearms user knows, this presents a personal risk to those who steal a gun, source a missing part, and fire it.

“The danger is greatly increased when missing components are replaced by any available part – especially if the firearm is self-loading, semi, or fully automatic.”

SEE ALSO: Big Lie Busted: Australia’s Gun Violence is Real and Rising…

The LSAFM is located in an old firearms factory in Lithgow and includes “Serial No. 1 Guns” produced at the factory, including L1A1 SLR (serial no. AD5900001); F88 Austeyr (serial no. SAF8800001); F1 carbine (serial no. AD6400001); and sectionized F89 Minimi light support weapon (serial no. SW950001).

The collection also includes experimental and prototype firearms like the No 6 Mk 1 and the No 6 Mk 1/1, shortened and lightened versions of the No 1 MK III that never made it into full production.

The LSAFM has reached out to the New South Wales government but has thus far been unable to secure an exemption for their full collection. Museum curators are considering sending the firearms out of the country rather than destroying them.

For more info, check out the articles posted by LSAFM here.

***Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! All Local Sales are FREE!***