Deadman
Member
http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5811365%5E1702,00.html
Guns 'more lucrative than drugs'
08jan03
GUNS have become the weapon of choice for offenders across Australia and illegal importation is to blame, NSW Police Minister Michael Costa has said.
Mr Costa said the sale of illegal handguns was more lucrative than drug peddling with a gun bought for $250 overseas sold for up to $5,000 on Sydney's streets.
"The police are doing a terrific job, they're taking thousands of illegal weapons out of the community on an annual basis," Mr Costa told Sydney radio 2UE.
"But we still have this proliferation of these particular weapons and they've become the weapon of choice for criminals.
"When you have that sort of mark-up, which is more lucrative than heroin, you're going to have people who are prepared to take the risk."
Mr Costa's comments followed reports armed robberies in NSW had increased 34 per cent in one year.
The police minister said illegal importation of guns through what he termed lax border controls was mostly to blame for the problem.
The recently-formed Australian Crime Commission's top priority was to address the issue of gun crime, he said.
"Part of the problem comes down to this question of importation and the lack of border controls.
"Three in 1000 containers (are searched) and (there are) eight customs vessels for the whole of Australia.
"We've got a grossly inadequate system of border protection."
Mr Costa said NSW had the toughest penalties for gun crime, but the issue needed to be dealt with at the source.
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' "The police are doing a terrific job, they're taking thousands of illegal weapons out of the community on an annual basis," Mr Costa told Sydney radio 2UE. '
Thousands?
Maybe Australia wide, but even then I'd say that's an embellishment of the truth.
To his credit Mr Costa is able to see that the problem is illegal importation of firearms, not law abiding firearm owners. However that won't stop him from screwing over law abiding civilians if necessary.
Guns 'more lucrative than drugs'
08jan03
GUNS have become the weapon of choice for offenders across Australia and illegal importation is to blame, NSW Police Minister Michael Costa has said.
Mr Costa said the sale of illegal handguns was more lucrative than drug peddling with a gun bought for $250 overseas sold for up to $5,000 on Sydney's streets.
"The police are doing a terrific job, they're taking thousands of illegal weapons out of the community on an annual basis," Mr Costa told Sydney radio 2UE.
"But we still have this proliferation of these particular weapons and they've become the weapon of choice for criminals.
"When you have that sort of mark-up, which is more lucrative than heroin, you're going to have people who are prepared to take the risk."
Mr Costa's comments followed reports armed robberies in NSW had increased 34 per cent in one year.
The police minister said illegal importation of guns through what he termed lax border controls was mostly to blame for the problem.
The recently-formed Australian Crime Commission's top priority was to address the issue of gun crime, he said.
"Part of the problem comes down to this question of importation and the lack of border controls.
"Three in 1000 containers (are searched) and (there are) eight customs vessels for the whole of Australia.
"We've got a grossly inadequate system of border protection."
Mr Costa said NSW had the toughest penalties for gun crime, but the issue needed to be dealt with at the source.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' "The police are doing a terrific job, they're taking thousands of illegal weapons out of the community on an annual basis," Mr Costa told Sydney radio 2UE. '
Thousands?
Maybe Australia wide, but even then I'd say that's an embellishment of the truth.To his credit Mr Costa is able to see that the problem is illegal importation of firearms, not law abiding firearm owners. However that won't stop him from screwing over law abiding civilians if necessary.