The Shooters fired back by accusing the Nationals of using a tragedy to mount a “scare campaign” ahead of the October 14 Murray by-election. 

Wagga-based Nationals MLC Wes Fang said, “the Shooters have been caught red-handed.  This party only exists to push for more guns on the streets”. 

“Forget the hollow promises they make to the electorate, their real agenda has been laid bare.  This follows on from their attempt earlier this year, to amend legislation to allow more handguns, more silencers and easier access to firearms.”

Helen Dalton, Shooters candidate for Murray, said in response, “even before the full death toll from the Las Vegas shooting is known the Nationals are turning this into a desperate scare campaign. Shame on them.”

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers advocate for changes to gun laws in Australia, including a repeal of  National Firearms Agreement, the tough gun laws introduced by former Prime Minister John Howard in the wake of the Port Arthur Massacre. 

Ms Dalton told Fairfax Media, "I don't like shooting much. But I've got [a gun] it because I need to have it."

When asked if she supported her party's position on repealing gun laws, Ms Dalton said: "I don't actually know too much about that."

She also admitted she was not across the legislation on guns. 

Ms Dalton accused the Nationals of hypocrisy on guns:

“First they come out and say only police and farmers with pests should have firearms, and only 24 hours later they change their mind.”

The NSW Nationals deleted their Facebook post saying, “we will not deny that firearms serve a purpose, for police to keep our streets safe and farmers to protect their livestock. But that’s it...”. 

Nationals’ candidate for Murray, Austin Evans said “I’ve always respected the rights of firearm owners.  My first job was setting the clay targets at the Ganmain Gun Club, where my father was the President.  I’m happy with our gun laws the way they are.  They don't need to harsher, but they definitely don't need to be softer.”

Glen Castellaro, a national shooting title winner from Griffith, says some gun laws can be unnecessarily harsh on country people.

“People in the city don’t understand guns. Out here in the country is what’s we do…why should shooting be banned as a sport? We don’t try and and ban basketball”. 

He said attempts to crack down on legal gun owners are misguided. 

“Every time something happens overseas, they bring up gun laws here”. 

“What we need to look at is the bringing in of illegal guns from overseas and how they’re getting into the hands of unlicensed users”.  

The Murray by-election will be held on October 14. Early voting is now open.