I’m amazed at how quickly Australia slipped down in national image, from this sudden anti-gun switch they did in the 1990s or whenever.
Australia went from wild, sexy and cool, to a shell of it’s old image, in no time.
Now they seem beaten and pathetic, tamed.
When your rights are not written down - anyone can take them away.
When your rights are written down, at least it gives you the authority to fight back when they try to take your rights.
While there is some variation state to state, gun laws generally in Australia would make an American cringe.
-One must apply for a license to be a shooter and gun owner.
-One must submit an application (PTA) to the state police each and every time they wish to purchase a firearm, new or used, retail or private sale.
-One must demonstrate the ability to safely store a firearm and that must be signed off by the state police.
-One’s firearm storage is subject to random inspection by the state police who will visit your home and inspect your storage set-up.
-One is subject to the licensing and classification system the various Australian states have devised.
-One may only legally possess a single-shot, bolt-action or single/double barreled shotgun under the basic license (Cat A/B.) General hunting, target shooting, etc.
-One may only legally possess a semi-auto rimfire or pump action shotgun under a Cat C License. Need here is vague to me.
-One may only legally possess a semi-auto centerfire or shotgun under a Cat D License. Cat D licensees must be dealers, collectors, farmers/ranchers, or, professional hunters who can demonstrate that they receive a certain percentage of their yearly income from contract hunting to the Aussie government.
-One may only legally possess a Cat H handgun license if they belong to a handgun shooting club/range and also participate in a minimum number of competition shoots per year (one per quarter I believe.)
So, if you want to own a firearm in Oz the government will want to know what it is, the serial, how it’s being stored and where, what you’re using it for and when, and, who’s using it at any given time. If you can’t provide that info then you are highly likely to lose your license, have any firearms you own seized with no compensation, and, will have to wait many years before you can reapply for a license or permit to purchase again.
Nice little police state they have there.
Careful sunshine appearances can be deceiving LOL!
There has been no news of how the cops found out about these guys but I suspect as so many of their weapons were unregistered and Queensland is currently cracking down on bikie crime that they may have been selling guns and ammo to what amounts to our organised crime syndicates here in Aus. If that is the case I have no sympathy for them. It really is not that hard to register and possess a weapon - only legal ones though - otherwise ya better hide ‘em good!
Somebody has put them to the Police I would imagine in exchange for leniency on a larger crime!
Mel