XN000022-1981-07-08 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1981

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MOVE TO STRENGTHEN LAW AGAINST MISUSE OF ARMS

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TWO BILLS, THE ARMS AND AMMUNITION BILL 1981 AND THE WEAPONS BILL 1981, WHICH SEEK TO STRENGTHEN THE LAW ON MISUSE OF ARMS AND IMITATION FIREARMS AND TO TIGHTEN SUPERVISION OVER THE USE OF MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS, WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AT THE SECOND READING OF THE BILLS, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL THE HON G.P. NAZARETH SPOKE ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT CALLED FOR INCREASED SANCTIONS AGAINST THE ILLEGAL USE OF FIREARMS AND IMITATION FIREARMS.

HE SAID THAT IN 1977 THERE WERE 47 CASES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INVOLVING THE USE OF ARMS AND IMITATION FIREARMS. THIS WENT UP TO 77 IN 1978, 133 IN 1979 AND 194 IN 1980.

+IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THE OBJECT USED WAS A REAL OR IMITATION FIREARM. BUT CLEARLY THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE CRIMINAL USE OF BOTH FIREARMS AND IMITATION FIREARMS.

+AND IT IS TO THIS DISTURBING SITUATION THAT THE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED PENALTIES IN THE BILL ARE DIRECTED,+ MR NAZARETH SAID.

HE SAID THE ARMS AND AMMUNITION BILL 1981 HAD THE GENERAL OBJECT OF STRENGTHENING AND MODERNISING THE LAW RELATING TO ARMS AND AMMUNITION AND WOULD REPLACE THE PRESENT ARMS AND AMMUNITION ORDINANCE WHICH WAS ENACTED IN 1933.

ON THE WEAPONS BILL 1981, MR NAZARETH SAID A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF CONTROLS OVER BLADED WEAPONS HAD CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS ONE AREA WHERE SOME SYSTEM OF CONTROL WAS NECESSARY IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION,

THIS AREA CONCERNS THE POSSESSION BY MARTIAL ARTS ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE RANGE OF WEAPONS TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH MARTIAL ARTS.

+ALTHOUGH MANY MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS ARE PERFECTLY RESPECTABLE AND PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE YOUNG MEN CAN ENGAGE IN AN ANCIENT AND WELL-RESPECTED FORM OF TRAINING IN SELF-DEFENCE, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT MANY MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS ARE A MEETING PLACE AND RECRUITING GROUND FOR ORGANISED GANGS OF THUGS - THE TRIADS, HE SAID.

+TOTAL ABOLITION OF WEAPONS CONTROL OVER THESE ESTABLISHMENTS IS LIKELY TO ENCOURAGE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE GANGS THAT INFEST SOME OF THEM AND ACT AS A SPUR TO RECRUITMENT, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE ATTRACTION, EVEN FASCINATION,

EVEN FASCINATION, THAT MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS APPEAR TO HAVE FOR OUR YOUTH.+

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