[Bruce in West Oz]

Drive-by shooters face 14yrs

28oct03

CRIMINALS involved in drive-by shootings face a maximum jail term of 14 years under new laws to be introduced into NSW Parliament today.

NSW Premier Bob Carr said the increased penalty was part of a package of changes to laws dealing with firearms offences.

At present, firing at a house breaches only the laws of trespass or discharging a firearm, Mr Carr said.

"What we're doing is proposing a new offence that would apply even if there is no one in the house," he said.

"We're doing this because the police asked us to do it.

"The police on the streets said 'our jobs will be easier if you modify the law in these respects'."

http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,7694324%255E1702,00.html

[Standing Wolf]

Sounds a lot like lowering the city speed limit to 25 miles per hour because buy beer and dope and steal cars and drive fast.

[Pilgrim]

"The police on the streets said 'our jobs will be easier if you modify the law in these respects'."

I can't imagine how a law will make the police's job easier. Each additional law just seems to increase their workload. I just read an article where California's law requiring children to wear helmets when riding bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and roller skates is largely ignored.

However, California does have a law severely punishing persons for firing a gun into an inhabited dwelling, whether it is occupied at the time or not. The law doesn't make it easier for the police to catch the shooters, but it does ensure the shooters go away for a long time.

Pilgrim

[Augustwest]

I'm almost never a fan of new laws, and I don't honestly know what the penalty would be for this in my area, but it oughta be far more severe than that for tresspass or "discharging."

[TheeBadOne]

I can't imagine how a law will make the police's job easier. Each additional law just seems to increase their workload.

Gangbanbers do a driveby intending to kill someone and by chance nobody is home at the time. Sounds like their current state law doesn't allow for charging if the house is empty (regardless of intent).