State’s big change after mum, daughter murdered

Western Australia is moving to dramatically tighten up its gun laws in the wake of the horrific home invasion murders of Perth mum Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl.

Mark Bombara, 63, was searching for his ex-partner when he slaughtered the Petelczycs at their Floreat home before turning the gun on himself.

The murders sparked outrage as Australia grapples with a rolling domestic violence crisis.

WA Premier Roger Cook said the proposed gun safety measures, which will be added to existing firearms reform, would give the police new powers to seize firearms without a warrant following a domestic violence report.

Mr Bombara was a licensed firearms holder at the time of the killings.

He used a handgun and ammunition he owned under a collectors license and the amendments would entrench stricter requirements to gain a collectors license.

For an individual to obtain or retain a licence, potential licensees must be a student of arms, meaning they will need to show they have had a prolonged and genuine interest in the study, preservation or collection of firearms, and be a member of an approved society of firearm collectors, the amendment states.

The collection of handguns will only be allowed when an individual can prove the significant historical value, with a certificate of authenticity, of a firearm that was manufactured more than 50 years prior to the date of application.

The measures would also prohibit the collection of live ammunition for any firearm listed against a collectors licence.

The government will also explicitly define the term “family violence” in its firearms legislation to “remove ambiguity” and provide greater weight to ‘fit and proper’ status considerations.

“Government or gun reform alone won’t solve this problem, but we know there is an increased risk to family and domestic violence victims when firearms are easily accessible and that is why we are taking tough action to address that,” Mr Cook said on Friday.

“It would be irresponsible of us not to consider the circumstances surrounding the senseless murders of Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc, that’s why we are introducing appropriate amendments in an attempt to stop something similar happening in the future.”

WA Police were called to Berkeley Cr in Floreat about 4.30pm on May 24 after reports a gunman had fired shots at a home.

The home is on a quiet street and near the Floreat Forum.

WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton said the police arrived at the scene and heard a final shot.

“We’re aware that police were on the street when the last shot was fired and we believe the last shot was the male taking his own life,” he said.

Gretl attended St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls before studying at the University of Western Australia, according to her Facebook profile.

Ms Petelczyc was a widow after losing her husband Jon in 2019.

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