XN000022-1981-07-03 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1981

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED FOR A CRIME SPECIFIED IN THE BILL (RAPE OR ROBBERY, FOR EXAMPLE), IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE TO POSSESS AN IMITATION FIREARM AT ANY TIME WITHIN TEN YEARS OF THE CONVICTION. THE OFFENCE IS PUNISHABLE BY UP TO SEVEN YEARS'

IMPRISONMENT.

THE BILL ALSO SPECIFIES CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING ARMS AND AMMUNITION LICENCES I

* ONLY INDIVIDUALS CAN BE LICENSED SO THAT RESPONSIBILITY

CAN BE MORE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED=

*

INDIVIDUAL WATCHMEN OR SECURITY GUARDS WILL REQUIRE LICENCES ENTITLING THEM TO CARRY A PARTICULAR CLASS OF WEAPON WHEN ON DUTY AND WILL HAVE TO SATISFY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE THAT THEY ARE PROFICIENT WITH THE WEAPON'S USE-

* A DEALER'S LICENCE MAY BE RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN CLASSES

OR DESCRIPTIONS OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION ONLY.

THERE ARE OTHER PROPOSALS PRESCRIBING POWERS OF ENTRY AND SEARCH WHERE IT IS SUSPECTED THAT AN OFFENCE HAS BEEN COMMITTED UNDER THE BILL THE STORAGE OF ARMS, AMMUNITION AND IMITATION FIREARMS- AND THE PROCEDURE FOR CARRYING ARMS FOR THE PROTECTION OF PASSENGERS ON CIVIL AIRLINES.

THE DEFINITION OF ARMS IS ALSO REVISED TO EXCLUDE REFERENCE TO BLADED WEAPONS (SUCH AS SWORDS) AND CARTRIDGE-OPERATED FIXING TOOLS USED FOR THEIR LEGITIMATE PURPOSE, AND TO INCLUDE ELECTRICAL STUNNING DEVICES AND WEAPONS FOR DISCHARGING NOXIOUS SUBSTANCES.

IT IS THE INTENTION THAT IF THE BILL IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AN UPDATED SET OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION REGULATIONS WILL BE MADE TO REFLECT THE NEW LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, AND TO INCREASE LICENSING FEES WHICH WERE LAST REVISED IN 1961,

THE WEAPONS BILL, ALSO GAZETTED TODAY, SETS OUT THE MEANS OF CONTROL OVER OTHER WEAPONS, INCLUDING SOME BLADED WEAPONS WHICH ARE NOW PROPOSED TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE ARMS AND AMMUNITION ORDINANCE.

UNDER THE BILL, WEAPONS LISTED AS +PROHIBITED+ WILL BE BANNED. THE ONLY OTHER WEAPONS TO BE CONTROLLED ARE THOSE USED BY MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS AND THE IR MEMBERS.

+PROHIBITED WEAPONS AS LISTED ARE CHINESE-STYLE THROWING DART, FLICK-KNIFE, GRAVITY KNIFE, GRAVITY-OPERATED STEEL BATON, KNUCKLE-DUSTER, CHINESE-STYLE FIGHTING IRON, AND SPRING-LOADED STEEL BATON.

POSSESSION OF ANY OF THESE WILL INCUR A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE YEARS.

/IN INCLUDING