25 October 2018

Thousands of illegal guns removed from the community - 70 from SE NSW

| Ian Campbell
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Some of the many firearms surrendered during the 2017 amnesty. Photo: ACT Policing.

Some of the many firearms surrendered during the 2017 amnesty. Photo: ACT Policing.

Police have commended regional and metropolitan communities for their response to the recent Firearms Amnesty across New South Wales.

An extraordinary collection of weapons has been surrendered, including 48 firearms from the Monaro Police District and 22 from South Coast Police District.

In total, more than 8300 guns including 413 shotguns and 1373 rifles, along with more than 74,000 rounds of ammunition, 56 prohibited weapons, and 338 firearm parts and accessories.

The NSW Firearms Amnesty ran from July 1 to September 30 with the aim of reducing unregistered and unwanted firearms in the community.

During those three months, people were encouraged to legally dispose of unregistered firearms or firearm-related items without penalty.

Metropolitan Field Operations Deputy Commissioner, Jeff Loy, says the community clearly demonstrated it does not want firearms falling into the wrong hands and putting lives at risk.

“There has been a really strong response across the state and it is encouraging to see community members recognising the danger posed by these weapons and doing the right thing by handing them in or having them registered,” Deputy Commissioner Loy says.

“Too many firearms are not stored correctly which makes them an easy target for thieves, particularly in regional and rural properties.”

Across the state, the top five districts where firearms were surrendered to police were:

  1. Murray River Police District with 128 firearms;
  2. Oxley Police District with 93 firearms;
  3. Hume Police District with 88 firearms;
  4. Mid North Coast Police District with 79 firearms;
  5. Lake Illawarra Police District with 70 firearms.

Police Minister, Troy Grant says, “This amnesty has allowed police to significantly reduce the number of unregistered firearms in the community.”

“Police have successfully captured thousands of firearms, either for destruction or registration including a replica colt AR-15 machine gun, .36 colt 1851 navy six chamber percussion revolver and eight .303 Lee Enfield bolt action repeater rifles.

“It is of course concerning that these potentially dangerous weapons were once on our streets; however at the same time, I commend the community for helping us remove them and to ultimately make our neighbourhoods safer,” Mr Grant says.

Police say anyone who has not registered or disposed of a firearm or firearm-related parts during the amnesty could now face a hefty penalty.

More than 250 gun dealers participated in the amnesty, they are expected to hand over the firearms submitted by mid-November.

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Clem Collier12:21 pm 26 Oct 18

zero tolerance for illegal weapons……I notice others think it`s a joke……wait until someone gets killed the see if you laugh.

Clem Collier12:16 pm 26 Oct 18

a very good job & keep it up….then anyone found with illegal weapons stripped of other possessions they value…..there must be zero tolerance………they`d be hung in Malaysia.

AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle not a machine gun. Gun grabbers seem to have the same problem no matter what country they come from.

Whats a colt AR15 maching gun? There is no such thing. There is a Colt AR15 which is a semi automatic rifle. It is not a machine gun.
Please use the correct terms.
Pity that they are to destroyed. Law abiding and appropriately licenced shooters should have the opportunity to buy them.
Such a waste, Especially the old .303’s

David J. Potter5:57 am 26 Oct 18

I have to laugh at the authors and the police who feel safer because a cap and ball black powder pistol is no longer “on the streets” as the author puts it. The same goes for the Lee Enfields , the ammunition for which everyone keeps in their pockets at all times ,of course . It seems a bit of a joke that the police and the authors of this piece feel that the citizens of NSW are potential criminals and killers who would just love to ambush and shoot someone (especially police officers) with these old relics from the second war that were brought home by veterans who did their duty and brought home a souvenir of the times.
The main problem the police in Australia have is the unfounded fear or paranoeia they feel towards the population they serve.
The whole force would be better off on prescriptions of Prozac! Wake up and smell the coffee ,boys!

Chad sensabaugh11:48 pm 26 Oct 18

AMEN brother

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