Huge theft of firearms in WA: Yet another mockery of Australian Gun Laws

Things keep getting more interesting and embarrassing for those at the Attorney General’s Department.

A huge theft of firearms has occurred when Barry and Son’s Firearms in Beckenham, Western Australia was robbed in the early hours of March 12 with a reported 60 firearms stolen.

From the report:

“MORE than 60 hand guns, along with ammunition, were stolen during a robbery of a commercial premises in Perth’s east over the weekend.

Detectives are investigating the burglary of the premises on Clapham Street in Beckenham. The offenders struck between 10.20pm on Saturday and 2.50am Sunday morning.”

The report alleges handguns exclusively were stolen but remember, this is the Australian media. According to various social media posts, it may have been a mix of new, old, antiques and replicas that were stolen along with a large quantity of ammunition.

Another “win” for storage laws and centralised storage. Cue Hugh McDermott and David Shoebridge, or not.

So what does the Firearms Act of 1973 say in regards to dealer’s requirements for storage?

“32. Safe keeping by traders

 The holder of a Dealer’s Licence, a Repairer’s Licence, or a Manufacturer’s Licence shall keep all firearms and ammunition in a strongroom or otherwise in safe keeping, securely fastened during any period when the premises are not open for trade.”

The law in the WA Firearms Act is vague, however, it will be no surprise if there is a sudden Hegelian Dialect style call to change it in the light of this incident.

The laws on dealer storage requirements do vary from state to state. However, it is usually standard practice for Police to inspect the premises before approval of trading. Barry’s, as all dealerships do, had an alarm system, cameras and all the usual measures installed which makes the story all the more interesting.

Interesting things to note out of this story:

How were alarm systems bypassed?
Is there a third party security company involved?
Why did it take Police so long to respond given the alleged 4 hour time period?

Cannington Police Station is literally 4 minutes drive up the road from Barry’s:

FOU has learned that allegedly power and phone lines to the entire block were cut. Most alarm systems will have fail safes in terms of power failure, so this makes the story even more interesting in terms of how the crooks were able to access the building without detection. We must stress that this report is only preliminary and we will await further information as this story develops.

The Channel Nine report alluded to the fact that there were renovations being carried out in the building and that it is highly likely that someone involved with the renovation, is also involved with the robbery. It was no average operation and more like something out of Ocean’s Twelve.

However, if this is indeed true then this only goes to show that locks only keep honest people out and that criminal sophistication is often two steps ahead of the law.

So, in a 4 hour timeframe WA Police failed to respond to one of the largest thefts of firearms in the state’s history? This is particularly interesting as WA Police were looking at introducing alarm systems for people with 10 or more firearms as a result of the latest review of the WA Firearms Act.

Much embarrassment.

This theft is the latest in a string of robberies on places of centralised storage of firearms in the last few months. An Australian Defence Force facility was knocked off in Taree, a Kennards was broken into in Newcastle with over 40 guns being stolen and most recently a brazen daylight armed robbery saw firearms being stolen from the Hunting, Camping and Fishing in South Morang, Melbourne. Victoria Police also has some chequered history in large quantities of firearms in their possession going missing.

So, where are the usual chorus of control freaks selling the benefits of centralised storage and tightened storage laws? Nowhere to be seen. Least of all, Tasmania Police. This is a proven example of how their ridiculous proposal to make Category H licence holders install a security alarm to prevent theft is absolutely useless, and more about being designed to kill off firearm culture by making it less accessible and affordable to the average person.

Don’t worry, we’re sure all these firearms will all be handed in during the national amnesty. That’s right after the Firearms Registry is able to “track them down.”

While we hope the crew at Barry’s are able to continue trading and not victim blamed by opportunistic politicians and Police who’s laws both failed to prevent this from happening, we also hope the perpetrators are caught and dealt with, and we’re sure that everyone connected to the incident is having their house turned upside down.

For all the rhetoric and posturing of the last 18 months over the Adler shotgun and the National Firearms Agreement Review, this incident has been the latest carton of eggs over the faces of Michael Keenan and his cohort of clueless, authoritarian bureaucrats at the Attorney General’s Department. It again shows how completely useless the Firearms Registry is and how ridiculous the National Firearms Agreement is.

Although we’re sure the usual “calls” will be for more laws that won’t work because something something public disarmament. What better time to have potentially 60 new illegal firearms in the criminal community with a disarmed public in a heightened terror threat environment?

We will keep track of this story as more information comes to light.