Mr.Seacucumber wrote:Wow, I wonder if this is in the Victoria one, I hope not.
The last firearms license I saw in Victoria (paper license, prior to a photo licence being obtained) which was a few months ago specifically had the text along the lines of 'This receipt can not be used as a license'. (Not the exact wording, but what it meant).
Even though the form is almost identical to one a new driver gets before the photo ID arrives - which can immediately be used as a proof of license - the firearms license was not.
Cars kill more people each year in Victoria than firearms. The discrimination against LFO's is pretty obvious. I don't believe it used to be like that, but in this case they had to wait for their photo license to come back from Vicroads until they could carry a firearm.
It's just another way they've slowly being sneakily trying to pull the reigns in tighter. GCA say that things have loosened since '96 - I beg to differ. Vicpol first releasing a new set of guidelines as to carriage of firearms, and this sneaky tactic - all going in under the radar - I don't want to get the tin foil hat out, however it does seem as though cogs are moving behind the scenes to make changes slowly and quietly... bit by bit hoping that no one notices.
And to what end - it's just more harassment. It serves no purpose. Someone's gone through the effort to get their license, being approved, but a drivers license or other form of ID plus the paper receipt isn't enough? It's not stopping crime, or affecting criminals or terrorists. All it's doing is hindering some law abiding person who's already had to jump through multiple hoops and wait, to wait even longer again. It only affects those who are doing the right thing.
The only reason I can see for it is to make someone in regulations who came up with the idea happier that they have 'given it to' the LFO's just that little bit more. If someone can give me a better plausible reason for it, I'm all open - but I can't see the purpose.
If cars, boats, and other licenses were the same I could understand - but targeting firearm owners only...
