I need help from the folks from Oz ...

O

Oatka

New member
... or other environs.

I'm using the "the police in Australia are already empowered to make random home inspections" in regards to trigger locks and safes. Can anyone supply a URL that quoutes the law?

Also, some time back, there was a post/URL about a NSW site that pictured items that were banned and should be turned in "before they hurt you". They included wrist-type slingshots, brass knucks, and bulletproof vests. The penalties were something like $14,000 and jail time.

Thanks in advance.
 
You heard wrong, they don't look for trigger locks. . . .

I believe you have to have a 2-compartment safe (ammo/weapon separated). Trigger locks don't count.

You need a special licence for each category of weapon up to a 5-shot semi (only available if you waste lots of animals professionally). For a city-dwelling hunter, you are VERY lucky to get a bolt-action rimfire and shotgun licence, and you must have signed statement from someone on whose land you will shoot (and god help you if you shoot the gun elsewhere).

The penalties for a verboten weapon exceed that of actually using it violently (I know of a guy who did 18 months time for shooting another in the head - from 300 yards away - he even blabbed/bragged about the shot).

As for the police being empowered to inspect your safes on demand, that is correct. However, this isn't restricted to guns - police state powers have been installed for quite some time.

The difference is that with a shooters licence they may actually get around to come in and check that your single-shot shotgun in the safe (there are too many people for them to just inspect every 5 minutes, although they have the power).

I thought slingshots have been illegal for quite some time (since I was a kid) although I don't remember exactly.

Australia's not that different to the US, and the US is just a tiny bit behind in gun laws. Ask someone who's hacksawed 1/4 inch off a shotgun, you'll do more time than a child molester. Or ask Randy Weaver what happens if you don't do your time.

Don't think that tattered constitution will help you, it's already junked, and even if you believe in the fourth, when they get around to registering your firearms, and requiring they be locked up, they will have "probable cause" to ensure you're locked up right. Just ask someone with NFA hardware (full auto, etc.) they can already be inspected. People without NFA hardware thing this isn't happening already because their "more popular/common" guns have been left alone for a while.

Battler.
 
Oatka:

Although the legislation is supposedly "National", only the States have the authority to make gun laws.

However, here are the resolutions agreed to by the Australian Police Ministers on which all State legislation is based.

You will note that in the section quoted, there is no mention of a warrant being required.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
4- BASIC, LICENCE REQUIREMENTS

RESOLUTION

Council resolved:

(a) that in addition to the demonstration of "genuine reason", a licence applicant should be required to:

- be aged 18 years or over;

- be a fit and proper person;

- be able to prove identity through a system similar to that required to open a bank account, that is, a 100 point system requiring a passport or multiple types of identification: and

- undertake adequate safety training.

(b) that the licence:

- bear a photograph of the licensee;

- a be endorsed with the category of the firearm;

- be endorsed with the holder's address;

- be issued after a waiting period of not less than 28 days;

- be issued for a period of no more than 5 years;

- contain a reminder of safe storage responsibilities;

- be issued subject to undertakings to comply with storage requirements, to provide details of proposed storage provisions at the time of licensing, and submit to a mutually arranged (with due recognition of privacy) inspection by licensing authorities of storage facilities(My emphasis);

- be subject to immediate withdrawal of licence and confiscation of firearms in
certain circumstances. (Jurisdictions may wish to consider appropriate penalties - additional to withdrawal or confiscation - for the failure to comply with security and storage conditions.)[/quote]

You can read the whole sorry mess at:

http://law.gov.au/aghome/commprot/olec/Firearms/100596.html

---------------------------------------------

The second one took a bit longer to find, but here you go:

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/detail.cfm?ObjectID=175&SectionID=camp_main

You're right -- $11 000 fine and up to 14 years jail time!!!

B
 
Chr**t I'm glad I live in Texas now.

Bad news, I'll get to live thru gun bans twice :(

(And no, I didn't move here for the guns/less socialism/tax; but it sure didn't hurt).


Battler.
 
Bruce, Battler, thanks for the update. Info will come in handy.

Really appreciate the NSW URL as I was going nuts searching for it. I'll bronze that one.

[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited March 24, 2000).]
 
Link

Another good link showing the drastic rise in personal crime and property crimes in OZ.


DISPUTE THAT HCI!!!

(Edited to fix formatting problem-TBM)

[This message has been edited by TheBluesMan (edited March 24, 2000).]
 
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