SKYNEWS have just posted the following news report -
Police call in big gun to battle gun crime
Updated: 2:37 pm, Monday, 16 June 2014
Police have enlisted a big gun of their own as part of a campaign to rein in illegal firearms.
Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has joined NSW Police in making an appeal to the community to dob in illegal gun owners.
'I have seen what guns can do in wartime,' Corporal Roberts-Smith said in a video message in Sydney on Monday.
'Like many others, I have served my country ... now it's your chance to protect the community by phoning crime stoppers and telling authorities where to find that illegal gun.'
Now in its second year, the Australasia-wide Operation Unification is a two-week initiative that encourages communities to notify police about illegal guns or firearm owners in their area.
Police say during the 2013/2014 financial year, nearly 9000 firearms have been seized by or surrendered to NSW Police - 4366 of them since January.
A 2012 report by the Australian Institute of Criminology shows that around 1545 firearms are reported stolen each year across the country.
While nearly 10 per cent of firearms seized are poorly made, home-assembled guns that can explode in people's hands.
Acting state crime commander, John Kerlatec said one phone call could save a life.
'It's about passing on that piece of information that may save that person from being killed or injured,' he said.
'We don't want to see that gun used in anger.
'More importantly we don't want to see any children hurt. We want these guns off our streets.'
Gun Control Australia spokeswoman Sam Lee said most illegal guns in Australia come from legal dealers who have gone rogue.
She says focusing on the legal gun market will stop the flow of guns into the illegal market.
'Quite high numbers of firearms are going into the black market through rogue dealers,' she said.
Last month police announced the $9.6 million Australian Ballistics Information Network (ABIN), which lets states and territories enter details of a firearm or bullet to see if it is linked to other crimes across Australia.
The existing network has uncovered 1200 gun-crime links.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online on http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/.
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Well, here we go AGAIN! Generally, I support the crack down on unregistered and illegal weapons in the community.
The spokesperson for "Gun Control Australia' Sam Lee, states that most illegal guns in Australia are coming from legal dealers gone rogue and goes on to say that focusing on the legal gun market will stop the flow of guns into the illegal market.
Where did that information come from and where are the statistics and figures to back up the wild statements? I am under the impression that legal gun owners "are focused" on by the various state Weapons Licencing Branches through inspections re storage and Legislation and Licencing laws. I notice in the above news report that no spokesperson from our side was interviewed.