Perth, Australia – Questions have arisen surrounding the police’s decision not to confiscate the guns of a man before he fatally shot a mother and her daughter while searching for his ex-wife. Mark Bombara, 63, ended the lives of Jennifer Petelczyc, 53, and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl inside their Floreat home in Perth’s western suburbs. Bombara, a registered owner of 13 firearms, including 11 longarm firearms and two handguns, was on the lookout for his ex-wife Rowena, the mother of their four adult children.
The tragic incident occurred after Ms. Bombara had been temporarily staying at a friend’s residence on Berkeley Crescent following her separation from her husband. Bombara’s arsenal of weapons was seized by the police during a search of his Mosman Park property following the double-murder suicide.
There is speculation whether the authorities should have taken action under Section 24 of The 1973 Firearms Act to seize Bombara’s weapons earlier. This section of the Act allows the police to confiscate firearms if they believe the owner poses a threat, without requiring evidence of criminal activity or a violence restraining order.
According to Shooters Union official Steve Harrison, Section 24 provides law enforcement with broad discretion in such cases. He emphasized the importance of police officers assessing the situation and making immediate decisions to prevent potential harm.
While police were aware of Bombara’s weapons cache when his ex-wife sought protection while moving out, it is uncertain if seizing his guns earlier would have averted the tragedy. Bombara, who had no prior convictions or reported violence restraining orders against him, would likely have regained possession of his weapons if a State Administrative Tribunal appeal had been made.
The state of Western Australia announced new gun laws following the incident, aiming to present legislation to limit the number of firearms individuals can own and implement stricter regulations surrounding gun ownership. Premier Roger Cook stressed the urgency for tougher laws, stating that the tragedy highlighted the inadequacy of current regulations on gun ownership.
In conclusion, the devastating events in Perth underscore the pressing need for enhanced gun control measures and stricter enforcement to ensure public safety and prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.