Month: May 1996

1996_05_may_column07may gun laws

The failure of federal and state politicians to deliver the gun control laws that the vast majority of the population so palpably want is another example of what Sir Ninian Stephen called the democratic deficit.

Sir Ninian, who is chair of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation used the term to describe Australia’s treaty-ratification process and the way the Executive negotiates and signs whatever treaties it wants irrespective of parliamentary or popular will.

The gun-law “”democratic deficit” is slightly different. It is not a tussle between the parliament and the executive but one between the people and the parliament. Parliaments in all states and territories and federally (with the exception of the ACT) have refused to enact the people’s will. How can they be forced to do so? People feel powerless in the face of guns. This is a democracy and when a majority of people want something which is of obvious benefit to the whole community they should be able to get it.
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