Adjudication No. 144 (October 1982) [1982] APC 24

ADJUDICATION No. 144 (October 1982)

The Australian Press Council has received a complaint (letter of 10 May 1982) from the Victorian Firearms Owners Committee about an article published in the March 1982 issue of Reader's Digest headed "Needed: stricter control of firearms now".

The main complaint was that the article advised people that if they had a gun that was not being used, they should hand it over to police.

The committee claimed this was bad advice. It also complained about the "emotive language" of the article and the use of personal incidents as statistics.

Reader's Digest pointed out that it is a crusading publication and has been known to take a firm stand on issues over many years.

The publication said extensive research was undertaken on this story, and indeed all stories.

The Press Council is satisfied the article was well researched. Reader's Digest was entitled to take up the issue of gun control and present a viewpoint vigorously. In so doing the article also presented the views of those opposing gun control.

The complaint is dismissed.