Thursday, September 09, 2010



Even TOY guns may have to be licensed in one Australian State

The Christopher Ray quoted in the report below is my brother. The government concerned is Leftist, of course -- JR

ANY ITEM that looks like a gun will have to be licensed under several changes to the Weapons Act being considered by the Queensland State Government. Even guns made out of materials as unlikely as soap or plastic may have to be kept under lock and key if they could "reasonably be taken to be a weapon".

The draft act says an imitation is a "reasonable copy" of a weapon that is not capable of causing death or injury. "If it looks like a gun and feels like a gun, it will have to be licensed," said a government source. "We just want to know where they are." It is unclear how the draft affects toy guns.

Failure to license an imitation weapon will carry a maximum $4500 fine under the proposals and incorrect storage carries a penalty of $750.

The proposed changes will also impose restrictions on the ownership of laser pointers, tougher penalties for selling items such as crossbows, bullet proof vests and knuckledusters without the appropriate licence, and stricter rules on firearm storage. In certain circumstances, religion will be a lawful excuse for carrying a knife and police who take their service-issue firearms home will be exempted.

A discussion draft of the Act will be available on the Queensland Police website today and Police Minister Neil Roberts encouraged responses.

But firearm owners' groups have condemned the measures as cumbersome and misguided. Christopher Ray from the Law Abiding Firearms Owners said legitimate owners were being "regulated out of existence". "We just wanted some of the burden, some of the bureaucracy and some of the paperwork taken off our backs," Mr Ray said. "Instead, they're complicating it further for law-abiding people. If we make a single minor mistake we can lose our (gun) licence for five years."

He said LAFO was also opposed to police being given "free rein" to take their guns home and leave them on the bedside table.

Geoff Jones, state president of the Sporting Shooters Association, said the crackdown on imitation weapons risked making "otherwise law-abiding people into criminals".

Mr Roberts said a requirement for permanently deactivated public monuments such as weapons on display in RSL buildings to be registered or licensed had been removed from the draft act.

SOURCE






KY: Man shot to death. Shooter says he acted in self-defense: "A man was shot to death at the waterfront in the early morning hours Wednesday and the man who pulled the trigger says he acted in self-defense. Police say a boyfriend and girlfriend were at the waterfront near 8th Street at 1am when they say a man they didn't know approached them. The man got into a fight or argument with the other man and the boyfriend ended up shooting the unknown man with his gun. The victim was taken to University Hospital where he later died. The gunman and his girlfriend were questioned at police headquarters and released. Police say the Commonwealth's Attorney’s office will decide if any charges will be filed in the case."


MA: Man wounded but takes out two robbers: "Jerry Bourque, 25, was on his porch at about 12:55 a.m. Tuesday with a friend when they were approached by two Boston men, Lakeem Tombs and Virgilio Dipre, both 18, authorities said.... they said, ‘Empty your pockets.’ The friend told the Herald Tuesday that Bourque struggled to pull his gun from his waistband but ended up firing through his clothes. Police initially called it an apparent robbery. A spokeswoman for the Middlesex District Attorney’s office said the circumstances remain under investigation. Police found all three men lying outside the house; Tombs and Dipre died later. Bourque is hospitalized with wounds to his groin, wrist and chest."


MI: Intruder shot in abdomen by Detroit homeowner: A 25-year-old man is recovering from a gun shot wound after police say he was shot while breaking into a home. Officers say the man had gotten into the home on Winthrop near Fenkell and Greenfield when he was confronted by the 59-year-old property owner. Investigators say that during that confrontation the intruder lunged at the property owner, who shot him in the abdomen. The property owner is a licensed gun owner. The 25-year-old was taken to the hospital to be treated. He is in temporary serious condition. The property owner is not expected to face charges.

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