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Australia has announced national gun amnesty, allowing people to hand in illegal or unregistered firearms to authorities. The move is aimed at curbing growing numbers of illegal weapons and comes amid an increased terrorist threat.
[...] The program starts on July 1 and within three months – until September 30 – anyone who possesses an unwanted or unregistered firearm, or a firearm-related item such as ammunition, can legally dispose of or register their firearm at "approved drop-off points in each State and Territory", without fear of being prosecuted, Justice Minister said.
Outside the amnesty period, however, those who are caught with illegal guns could face a fine of up to AU$280,000 (US$212,000), up to 14 years in prison and a criminal record.
“My expectation is it will probably not be the case that we will have hardened criminals who have made a big effort to get a hold on illegal guns would necessarily hand them in. The purpose is to reduce the number of unregistered and illicit firearms in the community,” Keenan said, as cited by AAP.
[...] Earlier this month, the authorities announced plans to build its first prison solely for militants with extreme views to prevent the radicalization of other inmates.
Source: RT
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Monday June 19 2017, @01:22PM (7 children)
I pretty sure professional feral pig shooters carry a hefty sidearm as backup to their rifles. At least they used to back when I knew one. Those pigs are bloody dangerous, ever seen the documentory "Razorback"?
As for shooting snakes, it doesn't matter how venomous the bastards are, they are protected under Australian law, so arguing you need to sheet them isn't going to get you anywhere.
For rabbits and foxes you use a shotgun or a 22. Just about anyone who would be in position to shoot vermin can get a licence for those.
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Monday June 19 2017, @04:57PM (2 children)
Doubt anyone faced with a deadly snake at home would consider the law.
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Monday June 19 2017, @05:18PM
Depends on the person. A few years ago, yeah dead snake and fuck the law. Now a majority would probably call the local council and get a snake catcher sent around.
But that wasn't the point anyway. Arguing that you need a gun to shoot snakes isn't going to work because you're not allowed to shoot them.
Also, how the hell did I manage to typo "sheet them"?. I need to sleep. :)
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 2) by gawdonblue on Monday June 19 2017, @09:11PM
The only snakes you're going to able to shoot with a handgun are too slow to bother you. Death adders, red-bellies and the like. Leave them alone and everyone goes home happy. On the other hand, if an eastern brown decides he doesn't like you then you'll have a couple of puncture marks by the time you got your handgun out. At best you might get a couple of shots off, but you'll most likely miss the snake and really piss it off to make sure it envenoms the bite.
In Australia: guns don't kill snakes, (stupid) people (try to) kill snakes.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 19 2017, @06:52PM (2 children)
Thanks for the clarifications.
Professional hog hunters, though -- as in, do it for a living, so same deal as an armed security guard, right? (Not seen that documentary, but my uncle shoots wild hogs in Louisiana, so I know a little about them.) But when I speak of handguns for hunting, I'm thinking more like going for a walk in the woods in deer season, with a magnum revolver on your hip, and if you happen to get close enough to a deer, you shoot it and fill the freezer. And if not, well, you've had a pleasant walk in the woods, unencumbered by a rifle, and you can try again later. AIUI, this sort of thing is completely off-limits in Australia.
Yeah, I get that you guys can have a rimfire rifle/carbine or a shotgun quite easily enough, and those are the same tools I use if I'm going out specifically to shoot pests. It's just that a handgun really is so practical to always have with you, in case you see a bunny while walking to the coop or barn, or even while driving the tractor, etc.. (Although I've been thinking of putting a shotgun scabbard on the tractor -- which is as much about deciding on the right gun as the actual scabbard. Light & handy, mild enough for the ladies of the house to use -- torn between a 20ga side-by-side and a KSG with light loads. But I'm drifting off-topic.)
About snakes -- I would assume there's an exception for self-defense in immediate danger, but fair enough; AIUI (I don't live in dangerous snake country) if you see a snake soon enough to shoot it, it's more than likely soon enough to back off anyway, so such an exception wouldn't much justify pistol packing.
FWIW, I mainly shoot cottontails, both for the good of the orchard (nasty beasts will eat a ring of bark right around an apple tree, which kills it, when the snow gets deep) and so the neighborhood remains unattractive for coyotes. Coons, possums, feral cats, etc. are all shot on sight, but we get more cottontails than all predators combined. (Oh, not to forget such house sparrows as choose to live and die in the chicken coop.)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 20 2017, @12:15AM
If gun restrictions is a problem for acquiring a pipe gun then there's always crossbows etc that has been used for 2600 years. The upside is they are silent, efficient can be manufactured without too much complication.
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Tuesday June 20 2017, @02:01PM
Sorry, I was kidding about razorback being a documentary. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087981/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 [imdb.com]
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 1) by tftp on Tuesday June 20 2017, @04:44AM
Most .22LR are inhumane to shoot foxes with. Spare a cheap V-Max .223 on it. Even a rabbit would prefer a .17HMR. A .22LR wound is often deadly, but it may take a whole day for the animal to die.