THE Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) Queensland is the Sunshine State’s largest and pre-eminent shooting organisation and the state’s peak body for the sport.
With more than 72,000 members – and growing – we protect and represent all aspects of the shooting sports in Queensland, from competition target shooting to hunting to junior development to gun safety and firearms training.
We have more than 70 branches ranges across the state, covering everything from rimfire rifles and handguns through to shotguns, centrefire hunting and precision rifles, centrefire handguns, lever-action firearms and even big game rifles.
Our Conservation & Wildlife Management (CWM) and Farmer Assist programmes have also earned national recognition for their participation in the control of feral pests in both national parks and privately held land across Queensland – protecting our native wildlife and agriculture from introduced threats including wild pigs, rabbits, foxes, dogs and deer.
We also have a strong Historical Arms Collectors division, dedicated to preserving and enjoying vintage and antique firearms to better understand our heritage and preserve them for future generations as well.
As part of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia – the country’s largest shooting sports peak body and organisation with more than 185,000 members and counting – we promote and encourage the continued development of our sport and represent our members interests to the government and media.
SSAA has accredited Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) status at the UN and also publishes Australia’s largest circulation shooting magazine Australian Shooter, along with the highly regarded Australian Hunter and Australian and New Zealand Handgun magazines.
The Sporting Shooters Association was established in 1948 in order to promote the shooting sports and protect firearms owners’ interests. Those roles remain the same today and with more than 180,000 members, the SSAA is the premier body representing licensed firearms owners in Australia.
PUBLICATIONS
The SSAA produces a range of national publications, including Australian Shooter magazine, the Australian Shooters Journal, Hunter, and Australian & New Zealand Hand Gun. Australian Shooter has an audited monthly distribution figure in excess of 115,000 copies.
CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
SSAA has won national recognition for its participation in the control of feral pests in both national parks and on pastoral lands throughout Australia. The SSAA has recently purchased two large tracts of land with a view to preserving a number of endangered species.
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UNITED NATIONS
The SSAA has official Non-Government Organisation status within the United Nations. In June 2002 the Association sponsored a workshop in Naples, Italy, which focused on global standards for firearm imports and exports. The Federal Attorney-General’s department took up an invitation to attend the meeting.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The SSAA’s research department is responsible for gathering data from a range of sources, providing material for publication in the Australian Shooter and coordinating various research projects and initiatives. Additionally, the section supplies information to individual S.S.A.A. Members, State Branches, academic departments, the media, community groups and Government.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND GUN SAFETY DEVELOPMENT
The SSAA conducts regular safety seminars and practical instruction on firearm safety. The Association works closely with the firearm industry in the promotion of responsible firearms handling among Junior shooters across Australia.
INDUSTRY LIAISON
The SSAA is closely involved with the firearms industry, both at a national and international level. In conjunction with manufacturers and dealers, in 1999 the Association sponsored an international workshop that focused on the marking and identification of firearms for the international law enforcement community. The FBI, Interpol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were present. The SSAA. has also worked closely with the National Firearms Dealers and Traders Council and the office of the Minister for Justice and Customs in the formulation of workable import regulations.