Toy guns will have to be licensed in Queensland under new firearms laws

[spookyturtle 9,465]

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.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/toy-guns-will-have-to-be-licensed-in-queensland-under-new-firearms-laws/story-e6frfku0-1225900889228

[Ban Hammer 12,828]

:rofl: :rofl:

[slim 1,514]

Sounds like freedom to me.

[mawilson 2,133]

For all their tough talk and macho posturing, Aussies seem awfully scared of toy plastic guns.

[Ban Hammer 12,828]

For all their tough talk and macho posturing, Aussies seem awfully scared of toy plastic guns.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaa! Too bad Aussies have been denied weapons so long they can't tell a real one when they see it. It is the low population density of Australia that causes so much crime also. I guess they are still trying to get their crime rate down. It is SOOO high compared to Vermont. More than 10 times the homicide rate of Vermont where everyone can carry guns (real guns with real bullets)

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm guessing you could find a few towns in Aus where there hasn't been a murder in 20, 30 or 40 years. Could always extrapolate that across the entire country and compare it with the USA, because that would be a totally fair comparison.

Vermont is not representative of the USA.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I'm guessing you could find a few towns in Aus where there hasn't been a murder in 20, 30 or 40 years. Could always extrapolate that across the entire country and compare it with the USA, because that would be a totally fair comparison.

Vermont is not representative of the USA.

You can find many towns in the US without a murder for decades too.

[Heracles 417]

You can find many towns in the US without a murder for decades too.

Like which ones?

"If it looks like a gun and feels like a gun, it will have to be licensed"

Doesn't take genius to realize what they are trying to prevent with this move.

Edited August 5, 2010 by Heracles

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Like which ones?

Doesn't take genius to realize what they are trying to prevent with this move.

Dover, Medfield, Wrentham, Newton, Weston, just to name a few in MA. There are thousands like this across the country.

[Heracles 417]

Dover, Medfield, Wrentham, Newton, Weston, just to name a few in MA. There are thousands like this across the country.

Dover has 6,000 people in it, with 0.4% being a minority. In other words, by US standards, it's an extreme. Otherwise why not use the rate of Ballarat, CA.

Take Chicago's Jan to Apr 2010 rate, which was higher than those killed in an entire year in Australia, and then come talk to me about safety.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Dover has 6,000 people in it, with 0.4% being a minority. In other words, by US standards, it's an extreme. Otherwise why not use the rate of Ballarat, CA.

Take Chicago's Jan to Apr 2010 rate, which was higher than those killed in an entire year in Australia, and then come talk to me about safety.

I merely made a factual statement that there are many towns in the US that rarely see a murder. I listed several in my area which answered your question. But of course you have to take it in another direction after I gave you examples. When you are given facts to refute your wild, blanket claims, you change the subject, as you always do.

[Atencio 43]

The murder rates are interesting and all but the story is about toy guns. Register a squirt gun? Amazing.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You can find many towns in the US without a murder for decades too.

Which only really highlights how flawed it is to cherrypick.

Edited August 5, 2010 by Its a MADHOUSE

[Harsh_77 716]

Do they realize how stupid this law is, where you one will have to register suirt gun? Do they realize how cumbersome this process could be?

Well to the person who think Aus does not have any murder, you have wrong info, Aus has enough murder and they are openly racist.

And guns dont kill ppl, there are other ways to kill ppl like in UK they use knife.... com on get real.