Self-Defence Expert Calls for Rethink on Gun Laws After Melbourne Crime Surge

Self defence expert Daniel Jones says Australians should reconsider the sensitive issue of gun ownership amid a spike in violent crime.

Jones is a security specialist and Krav Maga instructor, as well as the chief instructor of Tactical Force Combatives.

His comments come amid an uptick in home robberies in the Victorian capital of Melbourne. A recent incident saw an 84-year-old Albion man was punched in the face during a home invasion on Aug. 10, the man’s son was subsequently stabbed when he tackled the intruder.

Under current Victorian law, self-defence is only permitted if used in response to a perceived threat, where a person must have a “reasonable” belief that they face a threat to their life or serious body harm.

The law also forbids a person from carrying, possessing or using a weapon to hurt people or defend themselves.

“It gives them an incentive to think twice about whether that risk is worth any reward,” Jones told The Epoch Times after speaking at the Freedom Party Community Safety Forum in Caulfield South.

“In the hands of a law-abiding citizen, I do believe an armed society is a safer society.”

Regarding the stigma around gun ownership and violence in the United States, Jones said there were misconceptions.

“What a lot of people fail to realise is in some [U.S.] states, it’s actually very hard to get a firearm. In the left-leaning states, there are higher gun-related crimes involving gang violence, or they’re drug-related,” he said.

“In open-carry states, what you tend to find is there’s a lot less firearm crime.

“So I’m a big advocate and believer that in Australia, if people got training and there was a certain route you could take so you’re not just giving guns to everybody … They get a firearm that they can carry for personal safety. I really do believe that an armed society is a safer society.”

In response to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, then-Prime Minister John Howard implemented a ban on civilian ownership of automatic and semi-automatic weapons, implemented a mandatory gun buyback scheme, and set up a national firearms registry.

Adopting the ‘Castle Law’ in Victoria

Victorian Libertarian MP David Limbrick wants Victoria to adopt the “Castle Law,” self-defence legislation that allows people to use force against violent home invaders, even if it leads to grievous bodily harm or death to the intruder.

He moved a motion in parliament for the Victorian Law Reform Commission to examine its application.

“The government still insists that all the good people in Victoria that do no crimes and cause no harm to anyone are forced to remain completely defenceless and rely on police,” he said.

On Aug. 14, Labor, the Greens, and Animal Justice Party joined to block the motion, winning by a single vote, 18 to 17.

Violent Youth Crime ‘The Worst’ I’ve Seen: Small Party Leader

Conservative commentator Morgan Jonas, and head of the micro Freedom Party in the state, says youth crime and burglaries are the worst he has seen in Melbourne.

“Home invasions are becoming more violent, more brazen, and police are struggling to keep up with the crimes,” he told The Epoch Times.

“When you’ve got some of these offenders getting bailed 20 times in a year, it becomes clear that they’re not scared of the law,” he said.

“They know there are most likely no repercussions for the offences of which they commit, which in their minds serves as a green light for more brazen and violent offending.”

Morgan says the state needs to take a harder approach to dealing with young repeat offenders.

“I always place the safety of the innocent over that of violent offenders.”