Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
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: 1) by corey on Tuesday June 20 2017, @09:35PM
I've never been more glad I live in Australia. I like goimg to public places not having to worry about some looney going mental with a semi auto , and sending my kids to school knowing they won't get shot by some kid with mental health problems.
I live in Melbourne and there's nowhere on this city I can imagine going and be fearful of being shot. I've been to south LA and I certainly felt it there. We don't live with the feverish belief in kill other people in order to avoid being killed ourselves, because there aren't heavily armed wankers walking the streets. Yeah sometimes bikies shoot up eacjother or crime gangs but they usually leave the public alone.
I rather be in a place where guns are banned*, because it feels a whole lot safer on the streets.
I once looked up some stats after reading an article about Chicago people protesting about so many deaths due to guns. I read that in a day, or was it a week, can't remember, there were more homicides due to guns in the one city than in all of Australia in a year, by an order of magnitude.
How is that a good outcome?
(* except obviously for farmers, gun hobbyists etc)