Domestic violence accused to lose access to guns in wake of Perth double murder-suicide

People who are formally accused of family violence in Western Australia will be stripped of their firearms under proposed legal changes.

Premier Roger Cook made the announcement on Sunday and said the update was part of a wider plan to toughen the state’s firearm laws.

“We want to keep women safe. We want to make sure that we have a precautionary approach and that safety is our number one priority,” Cook said.

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“As a result of that these new laws will require the police to mandatorily seize guns from someone who is subject to a formal complaint in relation to domestic violence.

“Now many people will say these are too tough (but) we believe the principal aim should be to keep people safe.”

The announcement comes after a Perth man gunned down his ex-wife’s friend and her daughter in a double murder last week.

Mark Bombara killed Jenny Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl Petelczyc in their suburban Floreat home, before taking his own life.

Bombara believed his ex-wife had been staying at the Floreat house.

His daughter, Ariel Bombara, claimed WA police ignored repeated warnings her father was dangerous and had several guns.

An upcoming internal police investigation will look at the handling of interactions with the daughter and ex-wife of Bombara, who had fled “out of fear of their lives”.

Bombara said their pleas for help “were repeatedly ignored” and they had been “repeatedly failed” by police.

Ariel BombaraAriel Bombara
Ariel Bombara says her family’s pleas for protection from her father were repeatedly ignored. Credit: AAP

However, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch rejected accusations the force did not act after it was approached by the women.

“To say nothing was done is wrong. A lot was done,” he told ABC Radio earlier this week.

Cook said he wants the legislation passed by parliament’s winter break at the end of June.

“I want these laws passed as a matter of priority. I want them through the parliament as soon as possible,” Cook said.

He said the state government is open to further expanding its gun laws as the investigation into the Floreat murders continues.

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