Deadman
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Shooter anger over errors in gun records.
Sun-Herald 21/3/04
When what should have been a routine police check revealed that four of Kevin Bishop's rifles were unregistered last month, the veteran shooter knew there had to be a mistake.
Six years ago, the western Sydney maintenance worker's entire collection of guns was inspected and registered by an authorised agent - and he has the paperwork to prove it.
The only problem was that his own records didn't match those kept by the New South Wales state Police Firearms Registry.
When he pressed the issue, he said a registry officer told him his details had probably been lost along with "hundreds, if not thousands" of others.
Shooters Party MP John Tingle said he received at least two complaints just like Mr Bishop's every day.
"There are hundreds of legitimate gun owners out there asking what the hell they should do," he said.
"If a certificate of registration has been issued , the owner is absolutely in the clear. The police lists are wrong. The whole thing is a bloody disaster."
Despite the best efforts of its 50 staff, the registry was in such disarray that in one case, a registered gun dealer was nominated as owning 800 guns he didn't have and not credited with another 300 firearms that he did, Mr Tingle said.
Evidence from private records suggest the registry's database may have a 60 per cent error rate.
In recognition of the problem, Police Minister John Watkins has announced an additional $2.9 million to fund the registry this year with similar amounts promised over the next three years. He has also promised 40 additional staff.
Last month, however, the Government also moved to extend its state wide amnesty to have illegal firearms either registered or destroyed, until the end of May.
The "no questions asked" campaign was launched last August and scheduled to run until the end of this month.
As is stands, anyone caught in possession of an illegal or unregistered gun beyond the new deadline faces up to 14 years in jail.
Opposition police spokesman Peter Debnam called the Murwillumbah based facility "a can of worms and an extraordinary case of maladministration."
"The bottom line is the Government simply doesn't know how many registered guns are in NSW," he said.
By John Kidman
Police Reporter
All that money spent of creating a nationwide gun registry database, the money spent on numerous 'gun buybacks', the money spent of inspections/audits, the money spent on staff etc., in the end being nothing more than a complete and utter waste. And now they're going to throw even more money at an already ridiculous government program.
Oh well, NSW gun owners take note, contact the Firearms registry, find out what they think you have and then bury the rest....
Oh and NSW criminals you get more time to commit crime with guns, then turn them in no questions asked....
Sun-Herald 21/3/04
When what should have been a routine police check revealed that four of Kevin Bishop's rifles were unregistered last month, the veteran shooter knew there had to be a mistake.
Six years ago, the western Sydney maintenance worker's entire collection of guns was inspected and registered by an authorised agent - and he has the paperwork to prove it.
The only problem was that his own records didn't match those kept by the New South Wales state Police Firearms Registry.
When he pressed the issue, he said a registry officer told him his details had probably been lost along with "hundreds, if not thousands" of others.
Shooters Party MP John Tingle said he received at least two complaints just like Mr Bishop's every day.
"There are hundreds of legitimate gun owners out there asking what the hell they should do," he said.
"If a certificate of registration has been issued , the owner is absolutely in the clear. The police lists are wrong. The whole thing is a bloody disaster."
Despite the best efforts of its 50 staff, the registry was in such disarray that in one case, a registered gun dealer was nominated as owning 800 guns he didn't have and not credited with another 300 firearms that he did, Mr Tingle said.
Evidence from private records suggest the registry's database may have a 60 per cent error rate.
In recognition of the problem, Police Minister John Watkins has announced an additional $2.9 million to fund the registry this year with similar amounts promised over the next three years. He has also promised 40 additional staff.
Last month, however, the Government also moved to extend its state wide amnesty to have illegal firearms either registered or destroyed, until the end of May.
The "no questions asked" campaign was launched last August and scheduled to run until the end of this month.
As is stands, anyone caught in possession of an illegal or unregistered gun beyond the new deadline faces up to 14 years in jail.
Opposition police spokesman Peter Debnam called the Murwillumbah based facility "a can of worms and an extraordinary case of maladministration."
"The bottom line is the Government simply doesn't know how many registered guns are in NSW," he said.
By John Kidman
Police Reporter
All that money spent of creating a nationwide gun registry database, the money spent on numerous 'gun buybacks', the money spent of inspections/audits, the money spent on staff etc., in the end being nothing more than a complete and utter waste. And now they're going to throw even more money at an already ridiculous government program.
Oh well, NSW gun owners take note, contact the Firearms registry, find out what they think you have and then bury the rest....
Oh and NSW criminals you get more time to commit crime with guns, then turn them in no questions asked....
