Responsible Firearms Ownership 

Remember the novel 1984 by George Orwell?  Couldn't happen
here, right?  Read the following current news from 'down under'
and see if it doesn't run chills up and down your back.  There is
no end to what a Liberal Government would do to harrass gun
owners.  "Your papers, please!"

             Ammo loophole to close
 
             By Ben Harvey   07-27-2001
 
 
             GUNOWNERS in WA will have to carry photo
             licences under a police plan to crack down on
             people who buy ammunition illegally.

             At present, people have to present a firearm
             licence when they buy ammunition but because
             there is no photo on the licence, someone can
             impersonate a lawful gun owner.

             WA is the only State where gun owners do not
             have to have photographic identification on their
             firearms licences.

             The new plan, which comes into effect early
             next month, was formulated at the same time
             as police began a State-wide audit of the
             State's 85,000 gun owners and their 200,000
             weapons.

             Sporting Shooters"Association of Australia WA
             president Paul Peake said the gun lobby had
             no problem in principle with the change.

             He said firearm owners would probably have to
             purchase the photo licences, similar to driver's
             licences, as they came up for annual renewal.

             The change means that WA gun owners will
             have to carry two forms of identification
             because the details of the guns which the
             person owns are kept on a separate certificate.

             "It's basically so people can't pass themselves
             off as other people when they buy ammunition,"
             Mr Peake said.

             Assistant Commissioner Mel Hay authorised
             the licence changes at the same time as he
             oversaw an overhaul of the WA firearms
             database.

             The three-year audit means gun owners will
             have to go to their local police station to present
             some identification and their gun licences and
             hand over their weapons to be inspected.

             Mr Peake said police had undertaken to be
             flexible with the physical inspection - if owners
             had several firearms officers could visit the
             person's home and inspect the guns there.

             The audit was prompted by a damning report by
             Auditor-General Des Pearson which accused
             police of not screening properly the criminal
             records, mental fitness or storage facilities of
             firearm licence holders.

             The report, tabled in State Parliament in
             September, suggested thousands of firearms
             restricted or banned under toughened
             ownership laws had not been surrendered or
             checked for compliance.

             The Howard Government introduced a gun
             buy-back in October 1996 after Martin Bryant
             shot dead 35 people at Port Arthur, Tasmania.

             The scheme ran until September 1997. More
             than 51,000 guns were handed to WA police.

             Mr Peake said WA already had rigorous
             guidelines for buying guns and applying for
             licences.

             West Australians can buy firearms only if they
             are endorsed members of a gun club or they
             can show they have access to a suitable
             property where they can use the firearm.

             Applicants must choose their firearm and give
             police the details of the preferred gun. If there
             are no restrictions on the model, police will
             authorise a permit. Police must be allowed to
             inspect the firearm after it is bought.