Well it’s election time in Mexico, and while Labor are doing their best to pork barrel the hell out of Victoria, Police Minister Lisa Neville gave us this doublespeak:
“Victoria’s new firearms regulations come into effect today following significant consultation with the firearm community, industry stakeholders, the public and Victoria Police.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville today confirmed there would be no increases in licensing fees under the Firearms Regulations 2018, which maintain the same fee structure as the 2008 regulations.
The new regulations also introduce small amendments to improve the operation of the regulations, including:
- Requiring a permit for the use or possession of a handgun chassis kit, which can alter the operation of the hand gun, while also giving it the appearance of a higher-powered weapon like a submachine gun,
- Making line throwers and dog training devices exempt devices, and
- Adding Field and Game Australia to the list of bodies who can nominate members to the Firearms Appeal Committee.
A Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) was released for public comment in December 2017. The RIS primarily focused on fees for firearms licences, permits and approvals, as well as other aspects of firearm licensing.
The legitimate firearms community constructively engaged with the consultation process. After reviewing the feedback, the Andrews Labor Government decided to maintain the existing fee structure. Importantly, the new Regulations contain no new fees for the activities of historical re-enactment groups. We value the efforts of the historical re-enactment groups who voluntarily give their time to support commemorative ceremonies and community events across Victoria.
Firearms in Victoria are regulated in Victoria by the Firearms Act 1996. The Firearms Regulations 2008, which are made under the Act, deal with some aspects of the use of and trade in firearms. They also set fees for licences, permits and approvals relating to firearms.
We will continue to support legitimate firearm owners in Victoria through a strong regulatory system that protects the interests of responsible firearm owners, while continuing to crack down on organised criminals and serious offenders who seek to use firearms illegally to cause harm in our community.
Our new laws targeting the illegal use of firearms, including Firearm Prohibition Orders, are already having an impact and getting illegal guns off our streets and out of the hands of criminals.”
Drivel.
Oh good, thanks for not extorting firearm owners to the proposed tune of nearly $330.00, for a historically free re-enactment permit that has never caused any issues.
The chassis kit statement further sums it all up – a purely cosmetic feature that adds no influence to the performance of a firearm has been virtually banned, because “muh high powered submachine gun.” Proof once again that Police and politicians know nothing about firearms, they just know they want disarmament at all costs.
It’s quite obvious that the definition of “fairer firearm regulations” differs greatly between Victorian Labor and the firearm owning community.
“Fairer” in our books would mean logical things like getting rid of registration, deleting the appearance law, eliminating storage inspections, deregulating suppressors, getting rid of minimum range attendances on Category H licences, etc.
This is also rich coming from the same Victorian Labor that’s doing it’s best to eliminate duck hunting, restricting deer hunting with the Great Forest National Park proposal and has brought in firearm prohibition orders, which are really just a trojan horse for warrantless Police search powers.
All the while victims of crime are not able to protect themselves from Victoria’s violent crime epidemic, that apparently doesn’t exist.
Labor are a joke and are no friend of firearm owners. Put them last next to the Greens at the state election in November.
About the Vic elections in November, I’m wondering something.
If WA has the toughest laws on guns and weapons in all of Australia, yet is the only place that allows pepper spray, then why not elsewhere?
If pepper spray can be legal in WA, it can be legal anywhere.
It seems that all of a sudden, the fact that pepper spray is legally available in WA is much more well-known in the rest of the country, so maybe if the SFFP or similar gain the balance of power, then who knows?
Perhaps pepper spray will be sold in Victoria by the end of the year?
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Lisa Neville!