FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1981
TIGHTER CONTROL OF MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS PLANNED
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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY PUBLISHED PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN THE LAW ON MISUSE OF ARMS AND IMITATION FIREARMS AND TO TIGHTEN SUPERVISION OVER THE USE OF MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS.
THESE MEASURES WILL REVAMP THE EXISTING CONTROL LEGISLATION TO BETTER SUIT IT TO PRESENT DAY ARMS CONTROL REQUIREMENTS.
THE PROPOSALS ARE CONTAINED IN THE ARMS AND AMMUNITION BILL 1981, WHICH IF PASSED WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, AND A NEW WEAPONS BILL.
THE ARMS AND AMMUNITION BILL PROVIDES FOR SUBSTANTIAL PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES AND MORE STRINGENT LICENSING CONTROL.
ARE
THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR SOME OF THE NEW OR REVISED OFFENCES
* CONVERTING AN IMITATION FIREARM INTO A FIREARM (FIVE
YEARS)-
USING ARMS OR AMMUNITION OR IMITATION FIREARMS TO RESIST ARREST (14 YEARS IN ADDITION TO ANY PENALTY FOR THE OFFENCE TO WHICH THE ARREST RELATES), POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO COMMIT AN ARRESTABLE OFFENCE OR TO RESIST OR PREVENT ARREST (14 YEARS), TRESPASSING WITH ARMS OR AMMUNITION OR IMITATION FIREARMS (14 YEARS)-
* GIVING ARMS OR AMMUNITION TO AN UNLICENSED PERSON
(FIVE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT) OBTAINING POSSESSION BY FALSE PRETENCES (TWO YEARS POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE (14 YEARS)=
* DISCHARGING OR DEALING WITH ARMS AND AMMUNITION IN
DANGEROUS OR RECKLESS WAY (SEVEN YEARS).
THE PENALTY FOR POSSESSING AN IMITATION FIREARM IS RAISED FROM THE EXISTING MAXIMUM FINE OF $2 000 OR SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT TO IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE NO OFFENCE IF THE PERSON COULD SATISFY THE MAGISTRATE THAT HE WAS UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE, WAS A DEALER IN IMITATION FIREARMS, OR HAD NO INTENTION TO ENDANGER PUBLIC PEACE.
/FOR SOMEONE