AUS: New Firearms Advisory Council
The Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor today announced a new Commonwealth Firearms Advisory Council, replacing the Sporting Shooters and Firearms Advisory Council. The new Council will advise the Government on a wide range of firearms issues. “The Council’s mandate will not be limited to issues affecting sporting shooters, but will include firearms issues of national importance such as the Commonwealth importation.“ The members of the new council are drawn from the commercial and recreational shooting community and were chosen for their experience and depth of knowledge of firearms issues. Is there an election looming?
AUS: Gillard, Abbott focus on the future — Hewson
"Both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott are trying to move forward and leave their pasts behind, former Liberal leader John Hewson says. But it will be a challenge for Mr Abbott to distance himself from Work Choices, Labor strategist Bruce Hawker said. Mr Abbott had to try and differentiate himself on three or four different policies rather than just rely solely on sustaining criticism of Labor's failures in government. "Ms Gillard is the frontrunner going into the poll and it is hers to lose," Dr Hewson said."
AUS: Federal election on August 21
"Prime Minister Julia Gillard has asked Australians for their trust as they head to the polls on August 21. Ms Gillard has called the election just three weeks after she took over the prime ministership. She says the writs for the election will be issued on Monday at 6:00pm. In her first press conference of the campaign, Ms Gillard repeated the message she has been pushing since she became Prime Minister - that she wants to take Australia forward. "In this the forthcoming election campaign I'll be asking the Australian people for their trust.," she said." RELATED: Click here to check your enrolment details, or enrol to vote | Federal election called for August 21
UK: MP's to investigate gun-control laws
"MPs are to investigate the laws on gun control in the aftermath of two recent high profile fatal shooting incidents. The Commons Home Affairs Committee said the "tragic" killing of 12 people by Derrick Bird in Cumbria and the attacks by Raoul Moat in Northumberland had prompted it to look at firearms laws. It will examine the extent to which legally-held guns are used in crime and whether licensing rules are adequate. Ministers have warned against a "knee-jerk" change to the laws."
UK: Legal firearm numbers reach a 10-year high in Scotland
"The number of legally-held firearms has reached a 10-year high in Scotland, despite a fall in the number of certificates being issued. Published figures show 70,856 guns were held by people with certificates at the end of last year, up 2% on 2008. Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, said the rise in official gun ownership rates reflected "the fact firearms owners and dealers are taking their responsibilities more seriously than ever in staying on the right side of the law".
UK: Sussex Police phone app. for licence renewal has anti-gunners frothing
"Sussex Police are planning a new service that will allow shotgun certificates and firearms licenses to be renewed through an application for Apple's iPhone and iPad devices. However, the scheme has not met with universal approval, with gun control campaigners claiming the proposals would put lives at risk. Gill Marshall-Andrews of the Gun Control Network said: "This is an extraordinarily silly idea. (However), a police spokesman said: "If this model was adopted it would not replace officers visiting the applicant. . ."
UN : Negotiations begin on binding small arms treaty
" The United Nations began negotiations on a legally binding treaty aimed at regulating the global arms trade to help prevent the illegal transfer of guns that kill and injure thousands of people every day. The General Assembly first voted in December 2006 to work toward a treaty regulating the growing, multibillion dollar arms trade. Last December, the 192-member world body decided to hold a four-week U.N. conference in 2012 to draft an arms trade treaty, and it authorized four preparatory conferences — the first of which began Monday."
AUS: Federal election tipped for 28 August, according to the ABC
"Prime Minister Julia Gillard is likely to call an election tomorrow. . . Labor sources have told the ABC Ms Gillard is expected to visit Governor General Quentin Bryce in Canberra tomorrow morning to set an August 28 election date. But it is believed that the issuing of the writs will be delayed until next Wednesday to allow more time for people to enrol to vote." RELATED: Speculation mounts on election date
US: Gun-control bill pushes back at NRA
"The strong wind that blows against gun control advocates in Congress is more apparent than ever these days, but Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D Mineola) remains defiant and undeterred. On Wednesday McCarthy introduced another federal bill aimed at curbing the spread of illegal guns this one requiring people to report lost or stolen handguns to police. "I am making a statement..."
WA: Police officers stood down over alleged Taser misuse
"Four West Australian police officers are being investigated over allegations they misused Tasers on colleagues during an apparent initiation ritual. Internal Affairs launched an investigation two weeks ago into claims officers within a particular team at Rockingham Police Station, south of Perth." RELATED: Police union backs accused officers
AUS: Greens leader plans to live forever
"Greens leader Bob Brown has deflected questions over his future, saying he intends to be in his job "for a long time to come". Senator Brown, 65, is more than twice the age of the youngest member of his team, South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. He has already clocked up 14 years in the Senate, after spending a decade as a member of the Tasmanian parliament."
NZ: Return to registration ruled out by Minister
" Police Minister Judith Collins says police have told her the horse has long since bolted on that idea after the practice was done away with in the 1980s. She says in places where there has been an attempt to reintroduce registration, such as in Australia, it has been a minefield of disasters in terms of trying to track firearms." Could it be that criminals do not register their (illegally held) guns?
Found on Canadian Firearms Digest: Subscribe.
US: Nugent—To err on the side of freedom is no error
"In a world increasingly hell bent on abandoning logic and the ensuing escalation of . . . madness, it is clearly time for the maximum celebration of the good old, always reliable Uncle Ted crowbar of logic. I am ThumpMaster, hear me roar."
US: Instead of outlawing guns, keep them away from outlaws
"The notion that outlawing private gun ownership will enhance the safety of our homes or person is utter nonsense. What criminal would obey such an edict? It is the law-abiding who are placed at greatest risk — anyone believing the felon who is already armed in defiance of the law will surrender his weapon is naive to the point of lacking common sense."
AUS: Orwellian policing—CrimTrac wants a copy of all Oz drivers' license photos
"Thousands of Australians have their identity stolen every day, costing the public billions of dollars every year. To combat the problem, police need better access to information, including access to photos from every drivers' licence in the country, argues the head of CrimTrac, Ben McDevitt. CrimTrac is a federal agency which keeps and develops national databases of information including criminal histories, DNA and fingerprints."
NSW: Internet based political party announces senate candidate
"Australia’s first internet political party, Senator Online, has announced its inaugural candidate in New South Wales, police officer Wes Bas. Dedicated to giving everyday Australians a direct voice in Parliament, Senator Online is committed to providing constituents balanced and unbiased information on all issues, bills and policies in Parliament via its website, and seeking constituent feedback on how its Senators should vote." RELATED: Wikipedia entry for Senator Online
AUS: iPhone — the new CB radio
"Technology and people power will take on the mobile speed cameras when they launch on July 19, with drivers embracing social networking to identify their locations. More than 85,000 people have joined a Facebook group called "Drivers who flash their lights to warn you of coppers are true Australians", but that pales in comparison to the 6.5 million iPhone users worldwide who have installed the Trapster application."
US: How Wal-Mart sells guns
"Today, while visiting Wal-Mart, I took a photo while at the gun sales counter. The guns were sold in a rotating glass display case just like this with price tags attached. If interested, you just ask the salesperson to take it out for you to examine. Being able to buy a gun while buying groceries at Wal-Mart, convenient."
AUS: Homicide rate remains low ̶ NCGC questions gun ownership rules
"The use of firearms to kill people remains at historic lows in Australia, and well below gun-related murder in other countries, the Australian Institute of Criminology says. Statistics to be published next month show that 12 per cent of Australian homicides in 2007-08 were performed with firearms. The killing of two brothers near Newcastle on Sunday, allegedly with a .38 calibre handgun, which is classified as a prohibited weapon, raised questions about the effectiveness of rules to limit gun ownership, said the chairwoman of the National Coalition for Gun Control, Samantha Lee."
US: Genocide documentary calls for gun ban
"Genocide is an ugly subject that needs to be shoved into every generation’s face because the deliberate extermination of some targeted group by their own government occurs somewhere in the world during every generation. What does not need to be pushed in conjunction with that awareness is the propaganda of pacifist victim-hood and the exoneration by omission of the most prolific mass murderers because of an affinity for their ideologies."
NSW: Two men shot may have involved in mass brawl
"Police believe two men shot in western Sydney overnight may have been involved in a mass brawl. Officers were alerted when the men showed up at Bankstown Hospital, one of them fighting for his life. Police say the 33-year-old was dropped off at the hospital by friends just before 10:30pm with two gunshot wounds in his back."
BRAZIL: Firearms sales up 70% since 2005 referendum
"The sale of firearms in Brazil has increased by 70 per cent since 2005, authorities said. Brazilians approved the sale of firearms in the country in a referendum in 2005. About 59 million of the 92 million people who participated in the vote supported the sales. In 2005, 68,000 firearms were sold nationwide; this rose to 116,900 in 2009, the state-run Controlled Products Management Directorate (DFPC) said on Sunday."
SA: Shots fired at home may be linked to 'gang-related organised crime'
"Four shots fired at a home in North Adelaide, where six people were living, may be linked to a failed property deal, police say. Police said the family targeted in the incident early this morning knew their attackers. They would not rule out a link to gang-related organised crime, and said the family believed the incident was connected to a failed property deal."
SA: Internet carrier says government filter "fundamentally flawed"
"South Australian internet carrier Internode has refused to implement a controversial voluntary child pornography filter saying it is “fundamentally flawed”. Internode’s announcement is a blow to hopes that the filter will become industry standard though Telstra, Optus and Primus, which between them represent about 70 per cent of Australian internet connections have announced they will voluntarily block child abuse content." RELATED: Say NO to internet censorship
NSW: More evidence Greens MP used State Parliament to promote Senate candidacy
"More evidence has emerged showing New South Wales Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has used the resources of State Parliament to promote her Senate candidacy.The ABC has uncovered emails Ms Rhiannon sent from her State Parliament account in which she describes herself as the Greens' lead Senate candidate for NSW. NSW Legislative Council clerk Lynn Lovelock has confirmed the MP has broken parliamentary rules by using the email account to campaign for an election." RELATED: Greens MP admits misusing public resources | Greens candidate ignores advice to stand down
US: Criminals don't heed gun bans
"Just last month, Ricky Earlton Woods received a suspended sentence and was put on probation for receiving a stolen vehicle and felony breaking and entering. On Monday, Greensboro police say, Woods accidentally shot his 13-year-old brother in the neck. It’s not uncommon for convicted felons to carry firearms, even though they are prohibited by law from possessing such weapons, law enforcement officials say."
EIRE: Irish HIgh Court quashes refusal to grant firearms certificate
"The High Court has quashed a District Court refusal to grant a competitive pistol shooter firearms certificates for six pistols, including four Smith Wesson revolvers, and has directed the District Court to re-hear the matter."
AUS: Australian net filter scheme doomed
“Nope, no wavering at all to be seen. Some wishful thinking from some people that it will waver perhaps, but Gillard confirmed that it is proceeding with full steam.” Thus spaeketh Hewhomustnotbenamed in a Reader’s Write to p2pnet’s suggestion – the first reported anywhere — that ex-Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd’s carefully nurtured, blacklist-based, internet censorship scheme might be destined for the toilet." RELATED: Say NO to internet censorship
UK: 'One law for me and another for thee'
"Two Durham police officers who sold on guns which had been handed in to the force for safe disposal have been given suspended prison sentences. Pc Maurice Allen, 47, and Pc Damien Cobain, 41, had admitted misconduct. The pair were arrested in February 2009 when officers investigating a gun theft were told it had been bought from police. Allen was sentenced to 51 weeks, which was suspended for two years, and Cobain to 40 weeks, suspended for 18 months." RELATED: Grandmother jailed for five years over WWII war trophy
US: The demise and fall of an anti-gun 'historian'
"Out here along the Picketwire, we were mighty surprised ten years ago when we heard about an historian back east who’d proved that nobody to speak of had actually owned guns back in early America. This came as a big surprise, because it wasn’t what we’d heard from our daddies and granddaddies. But this historian, Michael Bellesiles by name, had all the facts and figures to prove it. This was pretty cheering to the New York Times’ reviewer (Garry Wills, “Spiking the Gun Myth,”), who said Professor Bellesiles had “dispersed the darkness that covered the gun’s early history in America” and provided “overwhelming evidence that our view of the gun is as deep a superstition as any that affected Native Americans in the 17th century.” Trouble is, Professor Bellesiles had made it up!
UK: Manhunt over, fugitive shoots himself
"Police have confirmed that fugitive gunman Raoul Moat killed himself after a six-hour stand-off with armed officers. A spokesman said 37-year-old Moat shot himself. He was later pronounced dead in hospital at 0220 BST on Saturday. Earlier, police confirmed that "no shots were fired by police officers" and no officers were hurt. Eyewitness Peter Abiston, whose house overlooks the scene of the incident, told the BBC: "There's been a shooting. Paramedics have gone into him." RELATED: Police offer £10,000 pound reward for capture of suspect 1807
VIC: Police to interview prison inmate over gun and fake passport stash
"Police will interview Barwon prison inmate Matwali Chaouk this afternoon over items including firearms and fake passports for which his younger brother has been charged for possessing. The application to interview Matwali Chaouk follows a dramatic week in court for the alleged crime family, whose youngest son Omar Chaouk has been remanded in custody pending the outcome of a bail application."
AUS: Internet filter — yesterday, full steam ahead, deferred today
"The Federal Government has deferred the introduction of its mandatory internet filtering program. Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy says the filter will not be put in place until an independent review can be carried out into what content would be banned. The review, which Senator Conroy says is likely to take about a year, will look at what makes up "refused classification" rated content." Election time?
RELATED: Conroy backs down on 'net filter
QLD: Mother who shot child may have committed suicide
"Shortly before 8pm on Tuesday night, the 22-year-old mother is thought to have shot her son in the Queensland town of Gracemere. As the baby was carried to a neighbour's house in a desperate attempt to save his life, his mother left in a ute, which hit a tree 10km down the road. She died at Rockhampton Base Hospital where, The Courier-Mail understands, scans revealed she had a gunshot wound to the head. Inspector Jon Wacker said police had found a small handgun in the car's passenger seat."
AUS: Julia Gillard to stick with mandatory internet filter
"The Prime Minister will push ahead with controversial plans for a mandatory internet filter despite acknowledging public concerns that it will interfere with ''legitimate use''. In Julia Gillard's first comments on the filter since becoming Prime Minister, she told ABC radio in Darwin that the proposal was an effort to control the ''dark side'' of communications technology.
UK: British police offer £10,000 reward for capture of suspect
"British police offered £10,000 ($17,714) reward for the capture of a fugitive suspected of shooting three people in northeast England. Raoul Moat, 37, has been on the run since allegedly shooting his ex-girlfriend, her boyfriend and a police officer on Saturday. The boyfriend died and the others were badly injured. Northumbria Police offered the reward for information leading to the former nightclub bouncer's capture."
UK: Fugitive vows not to stop till he's dead
"British fugitive Raoul Moat vowed not to stop killing "till I'm dead" as he declared "war" on the police in a letter passed to a newspaper. The 37-year-old former nightclub bouncer blamed Northumbria Police for ruining his life in the 49-page handwritten confession sent to the force and published in The Sun newspaper. He wrote: "The public need not fear me but the police should as I won't stop till I'm dead."
NSW: Greens MP admits misusing public resources
"After long campaigning against the misuse of public funds, New South Wales Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is being urged to resign because she has used her state parliamentary phone to campaign for a federal Senate seat. The NSW Government and Opposition are calling on Ms Rhiannon to stand down over a number of media alerts about her Senate push that contain the landline phone number of her State Parliament office."
UK: Gunman on loose after police ignored warning
"Police hunting the gunman Raoul Moat are facing an investigation into their handling of the case after admitting that they were warned when he was released from jail that he might “seriously harm” his former girlfriend."
From the Canadian Firearms Digest. To subscribe, email CFD with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
NSW: Police apply to ban bikie club
"NSW Police have today lodged their first application under a so-called anti-bikie law to have the Hells Angels motorcycle gang declared a "criminal organisation". The NSW government passed the law following a brawl at Sydney Airport in March last year in which Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervas was killed. The application comes as 13 men from the Comanchero and Hells Angels clubs are about to face a committal hearing for their alleged roles in the brawl. The Hells Angels club - one of the smaller outlaw motorcycle gangs - has undergone significant change since last year's airport brawl." Submitted by WM.
US: You don't have to be dumb to be a town councillor (but it helps)
"(A) municipal ordinance in Lancaster, California (That's about 40 miles north of Los Angeles), written in 2003, that explains how to create a Crime Free Zone in their city. The hard working folks there created Chapter 9.32 of their code of ordinances precisely to establish crime free zones. According to the ordinance, the city council has the power to establish the zone by defining its boundaries, announcing it and putting up signage announcing its existence." And the crims will stay away...not!
QLD: Changes to Weapons Act
CLASS has consistently reported that a meeting in Tasmania attended by officers in charge of firearm registries from all states decided some time ago to tighten licensing requirements for all firearms owners. No minutes were kept of the proceedings, so that no official record of the meeting could be used as evidence, but we have learnt that among the items discussed at the meeting was the licensing of so-called 'large calibre' firearms. We know that S.A. moved against owners of these rifles soon after the meeting and that lever-action shotguns were also identified as an item of interest (by the SA deputy registrar). Click on the headline to go to lafo.org.au for more information on the QLD moves.
Hat tip to JR.
AUS: Nice and nasty does it ̶ Internet 'guru' on the imminent death of newspapers
"The internet guru on the death of newspapers, why paywall will fail and how the internet has brought out our creativity - and generosity. If you are reading this article on a printed copy of a newspaper, what you have in your hand will, just 15 years from now, look as arcane as a Western Union telegram does today. In less than 50 years, says Clay Shirky, it won't exist at all." Bewdy, Newk!
SA: Bikie's throat cut in prison
"The former president of the southside Rebels bikie gang had his throat slashed in a Mobilong Prison attack. Guy Anthony Clift was attacked by another inmate late on Friday, suffering a 12cm gash to his throat that required surgery at Murray Bridge Hospital. Police and Correctional Services investigations have so far revealed the attack was not gang related, but most likely involved a feud between Clift and another inmate serving a sentence for minor offences. Clift, who was sentenced on drug trafficking and firearms convictions, has told detectives he does not want to give a statement or any further action taken."
NSW: Machete death 'may link to alleged plot'
"Police are investigating a possible link between an alleged murder conspiracy involving five men and the machete killing of Kesley Burgess. Mr Burgess, 25, died on Friday after he was slashed with a machete while defending his family during a home invasion by four men at Lurnea in Sydney's southwest on Thursday. Tomasi Natuba, 19, from Doonside, was arrested on Saturday night as he was leaving Bankstown Hospital and subsequently charged with murder." Related: Violent home invasion leads to murder charge
AUS: Gruen team to decode federal election shenanigans
"The Gruen Transfer team has set itself the task of decoding the show business strategies used by politicians during the upcoming federal election. ABC1's hit show about advertising is to be relaunched as The Gruen Nation, a series of 45-minute specials which will be broadcast during the election campaign." This'll be interesting!
VIC: Man denied bail after being deemed 'a risk to the community.
"An 18-year-old man has been denied bail after a Melbourne Magistrate deemed him too big a risk to the community. Omar Chaouk was arrested during Santiago Taskforce raids on his family's Brooklyn home last week. The teenager is charged with possessing a revolver, a pump action shot gun and 36 blank passports, believed to be from a consignment stolen in 1996, along with other offences."
VIC: Historic bayonet handed in to police
"A member of the public handed in a bayonet inscribed in French with what appears to be the name of former French president Charles de Gaulle, who lived from 1890 to 1970, and the date '1878'. There are a number of other items, including a Muscat pistol, a set of manacles or handcuffs, a curved dagger with two mini daggers in a leather sheath, and a smaller knife in a leather sheath."
UK: Police hunt triple shooting suspect
"British police are hunting a man suspected of shooting his ex-girlfriend, killing her new partner and then gunning down a police officer. Police say Raoul Thomas Moat, 37, allegedly shot his former partner and her new boyfriend early Saturday in Birtley, north-east England. The suspected gunman got out of prison on Thursday after serving a short sentence for assault, and police said he believed his ex-girlfriend had been having an affair with a police officer." RELATED: 'A nutter who's not going to give himself up'
NSW: Violent home invasion leads to murder charge
"Police say a man has been charged with murder over a fatal home invasion in Sydney's south-west on Thursday night. Kelsey Burgess, 25, was stabbed and slashed on the wrists and ankles when four intruders forced their way into his Lurnea home last week. He suffered major blood loss and died in hospital on Friday night from his injuries." 024
