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This photo taken Jan. 23, 2013 shows Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) processed firearm transaction documents from firearms dealers no longer in business, no matter the condition of the documents. Such as this fire and water damaged document, at their National Trace Center in Martinsburg, W.Va. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
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This photo taken Jan. 23, 2013 shows Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) tracer Debbie Marshall reaching for a microfilm roll of firearm transaction documents, from firearms dealers no longer in business, as she researches a firearm used in a crime, at the National Trace Center in Martinsburg, W.Va. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
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This photo taken Jan. 23, 2013 shows Traci Slonacker photographing firearm transaction documents, from dealers no longer in business, at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Trace Center in Martinsburg, W.Va,. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
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This photo taken Jan. 23, 2013 shows tracer Wendy Myer working to trace the ownership of a firearm used in a crime in a cubicle crowded with boxes of firearms transactions from dealers no longer in business, at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Trace Center in Martinsburg, W.Va. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
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This photo taken Jan. 23, 2013 shows Charles Houser, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), chief, National Trace Center speaking in his office in Martinsburg, W.Va. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
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Police cordon off Learmonth Terrace at Enfield after shots were fired at a house.
NSW cops 'tackle hunters, not gun crime'
The O'Farrell government's plan to allow hunting in national parks will result in vital police resources being diverted from tackling gun crime in Sydney, the NSW opposition says.
Police will be deployed to manage potentially dangerous confrontations between hunters and bushwalkers when the controversial legislation comes into force, a leaked document has revealed.
The document from the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) said the confrontations would likely pose a "major" risk because of "the potential for firearms discharge to occur".
Opposition environment spokesman Luke Foley says the decision to send police to national parks comes as Sydney's west is hit with escalating gun violence and public shootings.
"Police should be dealing with bikie gangs and gun crime on Sydney streets, not managing confrontations in our national parks between amateur hunters and bushwalkers," Mr Foley said in a statement.
"Barry O'Farrell's own department has already warned there is a high risk of serious injury or death if the premier proceeds with his legislation to allow hunting in national parks.
"The fact we are now going to see valuable police resources pulled off the streets and sent into our national parks because of the premier's dangerous policy is a joke."
Mr Foley called on the government to abandon its plans to allow amateur shooters to hunt in national parks.
"If a tragic incident occurs, nobody in the O'Farrell government can say they weren't warned about the risks."
The OEH confirmed police would be expected to deal with any unrest when the hunting legislation comes into effect.
"We are continuing to work through controls, but our current operations include involving the police in any compliance activity or law enforcement matter," the OEH said in a statement.
The hunting legislation was passed in 2012 as part of a deal struck with the Shooters and Fishers Party, in exchange for its support for the government's power privatisation.
Last week, NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker told parliament the legislation would not be ready for implementation until late April or possibly May.
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