Operation Unification Nets 78 Guns
Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - 9:21 am.
Tasmania Police has taken almost 80 firearms, including a home-made weapon, out of circulation as part of Operation Unification – Illegal Guns Off Our Streets.
Of the haul, 36 firearms were seized by police and 42 were handed in at amnesties around the State. 19 of the seized firearms were illicit – unregistered with unauthorised possession. The remaining 17 seized firearms were registered, and further investigations are underway.
Included in the seized firearms was a home-made pistol seized from a property at George Town on Friday afternoon. An 18 year old man will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at a later date on firearms charges.
The home-made firearm was capable of firing a projectile. It’s believed 2 other home-made firearms were made by the offender and one of these firearms has already been recovered. These firearms are illegal under the Firearms Act 1996.
Investigations into the whereabouts of a third firearm are continuing.
Police conducted 45 targetted searches during the two-week operation which finished yesterday. A total of sixteen people will face court on firearms related offences.
The Operation was a national initiative to get illegal and unwanted guns out of circulation.
“A total of 78 seized and handed-in guns is an excellent result. These firearms can’t be used in crime, or targeted for theft by criminals,” said Senior Sergeant Craig Joel.
“We would really like to thank those people who handed in guns voluntarily.”
In yesterday’s mobile amnesty at Sheffield, a quantity of ammunition and 12 firearms were surrendered. The firearms were two 9mm sub-machine guns, a shotgun, 8 rifles and an air rifle.
We also want to thank those people who phoned Crime Stoppers with information.
“Information from the community is vital to helping us tackle gun crime.”
There is a permanent amnesty for handing in firearms. Under the Firearms Act 1996, any firearm can be handed into a police station and no further action will be taken in relation to possession offences.
Gregg wrote:"There is a permanent amnesty for handing in firearms."
I thought that got cancelled in Tasmania a few months ago?
pajamatime wrote:permanent amnesty is pretty awesome though.
Warrigul wrote:There is still a permanent amnesty but you have to hand them in directly to the Police now, unregistered firearms handed in to gun dealers could be legally registered and sold but that exemption has ceased
Warrigul wrote:pajamatime wrote:permanent amnesty is pretty awesome though.
Sensible
riggee wrote:This hard line nonsense just puts people off IMO.
beerd wrote:riggee wrote:This hard line nonsense just puts people off IMO.
I've always though that was particularly relevant for drug use. (That's use, not dealing).
You see these things on the net or paper or whatever where people who've overdosed get pushed through hospital doors unconscious in trolleys and that kind of thing before their friends run off because they're scared of getting in trouble. Worse they don't take the person in and just hope they recover.
I think it's Sweden or somewhere, and drug use there is 100% a public health issue. Not a criminal one. You can go to any hospital and say 'I'm a drug addict, I wan't to get off it and need help' and they just help you. That's it.
Here yelling "zero tolerance!" and "full extent of the law!" while shaking your fist angrily seems to be preferred.
If anyone can convince me the latter is a better option I'm all ears...
Warrigul wrote:I guess the thing is as soon as you de criminalise drug use it increases, sure life expectency for users goes up but less people try and get off if supply is made easier.
Warrigul wrote:I can't for the life of me think of any instance where someone has been prosecuted for asking for help, they get free needles, free health checks and drug advice and I know there are programs available for those that want to de tox but most don't.
The local emergency sees at least five cases of overdose each weekend (so I have been told by a family member)and there are only 25,000 people in our area.
mausermate wrote:He was scared, didn't know what to do, wanted to do the right thing. It wasn't during an amnesty but I immediately took it into my local dealer.
mausermate wrote:He rang the registry and they went on and on about how illegal it was, we can't do any thing because the amnesty is over and this that and the other thing until the dealer said "okay! I'll tell him to take it away again".
As you can guess...there was a hell of a blow up on the other end of the line. "You can't do that"
mausermate wrote:Why in god's earth a permanent amnesty has not been in since the beginning of time is a mystery to me.