Tasmania Police Leader Stops Risky Gun Owner Letters

When Assistant Commissioner Doug Oosterloo learned his team was sending warning letters to suspected sovereign citizens who owned guns, he immediately saw the danger.

The letters asked Tasmanians to confirm in writing whether they aligned with sovereign citizen ideology and prove they were "fit and proper" gun owners. Police then visited some homes and temporarily suspended a small number of licenses where safety concerns existed.

But Oosterloo recognized a critical flaw. If someone believes police might take their firearms, a warning letter before a home visit could create exactly the kind of dangerous situation officers should avoid.

He requested an urgent briefing and asked tough questions. What authority justified the letters? How were people identified? Did the team consult experts before taking action?

In his email to the firearms services team, Oosterloo didn't mince words about the increased risk to officers. He also asked for something rare in bureaucratic settings: "honest reflection and contrition if it is conceded there were errors made."

The Bright Side

His intervention worked. Tasmania Police immediately stopped the letter program and developed a new approach that assesses each case individually with input from officers and intelligence analysts.

The department now provides mandatory training to help officers identify concerning behaviors rather than ideologies. This shift focuses on actions and safety rather than beliefs.

Police Association President Shane Tilley praised the change. Writing to people and then showing up at their homes was "setting yourself up to fail," he said, especially when dealing with individuals who may not recognize police authority.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance also welcomed the decision, noting concerns about targeting groups based on shared ideologies rather than specific dangerous behaviors.

Tasmania Police emphasized that no licenses were cancelled solely because someone held sovereign citizen views. Under the state's Firearms Act, anyone holding a gun license must demonstrate they can safely control firearms and don't pose risks to themselves or others.

The new process balances legitimate safety concerns with civil liberties while protecting the officers who serve the community. When leaders recognize mistakes and course correct quickly, everyone benefits.

Sometimes the best news isn't that everything went perfectly from the start—it's that someone with authority noticed a problem and had the courage to fix it.