Bruce in West Oz
New member
Fair dinkum, sometimes I feel like weeping at the stupidity of it all ....
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>TOYMAN GUILTY ON GUN COUNTS
Herald Sun Sunday, Victoria, 8/8/99
A Richmond shop owner who sold plastic toy guns was found guilty this week of firearms offences.
Magistrate Duncan Reynolds placed Rod Sheridan on a 12-month good-behaviour bond and directed him to pay $500 to the poor box.
He ordered the forfeiture of five boxes of toy guns seized by police but directed that no conviction be recorded against Mr Sheridan's name.
The toy importer and wholesaler was charged with three offences after police raided his shop on June 2.
He pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday to possession of a handgun and failing to hold a handgun shooter's licence.
Defence lawyer Chris Henaghan said his client had no choice about his plea because under changes to the Firearms Act, the toy guns could technically be classed as handguns.
The third charge of carrying on business of a firearms dealer as withdrawn by police. Mr Sheridan faced fines of up to $36,000 and/or two years' jail.
But the magistrate said he would use his discretion in handing down his decision.
Mr Sheridan, newly married father of a three-month old child, said yesterday he could not afford to fight the charges in a long court hearing. "I was hoping that if I pleaded guilty at the first opportunity the
magistrate might dismiss the case," he said.
"But although he did not, it was obvious he thought the charges against me were pretty insignificant.
"Since I had no conviction recorded against my name, I will still be able to travel overseas, which is a key part of my business."
Mr Sheridan said he felt he had been singled out by police because no action had been taken against other retailers or wholesalers.
"There have been no warnings or advice handed to the Australian Toy Association or any other efforts to ensure importers of the toys are made aware of the provisions of the Firearms Act," Mr Sheridan said. "Why did Customs not ban the import of these toys if they are now deemed illegal? They were all declared and cleared."
Police yesterday declined to comment on the case.
Mr Sheridan's Swan St store was raided after a parent complained to police. Amendments to the Firearms Act in 1996, in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre brought in stricter definitions of firearms.[/quote]
(All emphasis mine -- B)
Please, Uncle Sam, lower your immigration entry requirements to include Aussies as "political refugees" .... please?
B
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>TOYMAN GUILTY ON GUN COUNTS
Herald Sun Sunday, Victoria, 8/8/99
A Richmond shop owner who sold plastic toy guns was found guilty this week of firearms offences.
Magistrate Duncan Reynolds placed Rod Sheridan on a 12-month good-behaviour bond and directed him to pay $500 to the poor box.
He ordered the forfeiture of five boxes of toy guns seized by police but directed that no conviction be recorded against Mr Sheridan's name.
The toy importer and wholesaler was charged with three offences after police raided his shop on June 2.
He pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday to possession of a handgun and failing to hold a handgun shooter's licence.
Defence lawyer Chris Henaghan said his client had no choice about his plea because under changes to the Firearms Act, the toy guns could technically be classed as handguns.
The third charge of carrying on business of a firearms dealer as withdrawn by police. Mr Sheridan faced fines of up to $36,000 and/or two years' jail.
But the magistrate said he would use his discretion in handing down his decision.
Mr Sheridan, newly married father of a three-month old child, said yesterday he could not afford to fight the charges in a long court hearing. "I was hoping that if I pleaded guilty at the first opportunity the
magistrate might dismiss the case," he said.
"But although he did not, it was obvious he thought the charges against me were pretty insignificant.
"Since I had no conviction recorded against my name, I will still be able to travel overseas, which is a key part of my business."
Mr Sheridan said he felt he had been singled out by police because no action had been taken against other retailers or wholesalers.
"There have been no warnings or advice handed to the Australian Toy Association or any other efforts to ensure importers of the toys are made aware of the provisions of the Firearms Act," Mr Sheridan said. "Why did Customs not ban the import of these toys if they are now deemed illegal? They were all declared and cleared."
Police yesterday declined to comment on the case.
Mr Sheridan's Swan St store was raided after a parent complained to police. Amendments to the Firearms Act in 1996, in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre brought in stricter definitions of firearms.[/quote]
(All emphasis mine -- B)
Please, Uncle Sam, lower your immigration entry requirements to include Aussies as "political refugees" .... please?
B
