Mother urges community to report illegal firearms

The 38-year-old, who lives in Cairns, has spoken out in support of our Illegal Firearms Campaign, calling on Queenslanders to join the fight in helping to make communities safer.

Although she can’t be named for legal reasons, the woman is hoping that by sharing her story, others will have the courage to come forward and report what they know – anonymously – to help prevent crime and potentially save a life.

“I know it’s hard to speak out, but if you know someone has an illegal firearm then you need to report it before you don’t have a life left,” she said.

“If I had told Crime Stoppers when my ex-partner first brought the guns home then I would never have ended up in a situation whereby all he had to do was the pull the trigger and finish me off.”

Although it’s been five years since the father of her children held an illegal shotgun to her throat and threatened to blow her head off, she remembers it like it was yesterday.

“I was pinned face down on the coffee table with his knee on my back and the gun poked up underneath my chin,” she said. “It felt like an eternity until he finally let go and put the gun away. I don’t know why he didn’t go through with it, but I didn’t hang around for him to change his mind.

“I realised he needed to be stopped, and he’d smashed my phone and laptop so I had no choice but to leave the house to get help. I locked the children in the bedroom and bolted.”

The woman fled to a nearby shopping centre, where a worker helped her call the police and locked the store down. Armed officers swiftly responded, surrounding both the home and the shopping centre before arresting her partner and seizing the firearms.

That fateful day on March 3, 2020, marked the culmination of 13 years of abuse, during which the woman was repeatedly threatened with illegal firearms.

“He had two illegal shotguns, one of which was sawn off, and he kept them in a backpack in the wardrobe. He’d threaten me with them often. He made it clear that if I ever told anyone, he’d kill me. A few times he even threatened to carry out a murder suicide. I lived in constant fear, trying to keep the peace, trying to protect my kids.

“I did as I was told because I didn’t want to end up dead, and I chose not to report it because I was terrified.

“When I look back, I don’t know how I survived it, and now I realise I should have had the courage to pick up the phone and call Crime Stoppers anonymously. If I had done that, I wouldn’t have lived through the torture.

“I had chances to report him. Neighbours once reported gunshots, and police even came out, but I didn’t speak up. I was too scared. I thought, “What if they don’t believe me? What if they don’t arrest him? What if he comes back and finishes what he started?”

“Now I wish I’d reported him the moment he brought the guns home. If I had, none of it—being held at gunpoint, the bullet holes in our car, the years of torment—would have happened.

“I hope that by telling my story, others will be empowered to come forward sooner and report what they know.

“If you know someone has an illegal firearm, report it, anonymously – before it’s too late. Because I was almost too late, and not everyone gets a second chance like I did.”

Our Illegal Firearm Campaign is targeting rural, regional and remote areas of Queensland, with a particular focus on Townsville, Rockhampton, and Toowoomba.

Crime Stoppers Queensland CEO David Hansen said everyone had an important role to play in combating gun crime, particularly those closest to people with illegal firearms, including partners, family members, or close friends.

“The message is simple – say something before it’s too late,” he said.

“People need to know that they have the power to help keep their family and their community safe and every illegal firearm that’s reported and removed is a potential crime prevented.

“As we have learned from this woman’s story, illegal firearms are even being linked to domestic violence offences, and in the wrong hands can be devastating. If a member of the community knows someone in possession of a firearm, it’s crucial that they say something.

“We know that the people most likely to have vital information about illegal firearms are often current or former partners, family members, or close friends.

“We are urging them to come forward and report an illegal firearm to Crime Stoppers. They might feel hesitant, but staying silent only allows the danger to grow. Your call is 100 per cent anonymous and could stop a crime before it happens and potentially save a life.”

Australian Criminal Intelligence figures reveal there are currently an estimated 260,000 illegal firearms in Australia.

Data released last year by Queensland Police revealed that there were more than 3290 crimes committed involving firearms, including attempted murders, assaults, robberies and unlawful entries. In addition,1055 people had their gun licence revoked in 2024.

We have already helped take thousands of dangerous weapons out of circulation and with continued help from the public can do even more.

Emergency help or support

Call Triple Zero (000) and ask for Police if you are in a dangerous or life-threatening situation.

If you don’t want to speak to the police you can also call

• DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636 (9am to 12 midnight, 7 days a week)

Want to share info about non-urgent crime or suspicious activity anonymously? Reach out to Crime Stoppers Qld on 1800 333 000 or make a report online. 

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government