Amnesty

 

 OPERATION CATAPULT: The interdepartmental attack against bona-fide weapons collectors. 

"DEAR  MEMBER,

THE WEAPONS LICENSING BRANCH OF THE QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE THANKS YOU FOR YOUR RECENT PARTICIPATION IN THE FIREARMS AMNESTY. THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, A NUMBER OF WEAPONS WHICH HAD BEEN UNREGISTERED AND UNKNOWN TO US ARE NOW REGISTERED.

WE NOW ADVISE THAT YOU ARE TO BE PROSECUTED FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF THE ITEMS WHICH YOU REGISTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT AMNESTY ..."

 

Sound implausible? Well, wake up Muggins, this is the Smart* State. Here's the facts:

25.08.00 -  Member receives written permission from WLB that unregistered weapons may be surrendered to a licensed firearms dealer by a person on behalf of the original owner, if the original owner wished to remain anonymous.  The person surrendering the weapon may then legally acquire the weapon onto their weapons act license.

 23.09.02 - The Member surrenders a fully functional Intratec Tec DC9 semi auto pistol offered to him by a unlicensed person, then legally acquires it with a permit to acquire under the unofficial amnesty.

04.04.03 - In accord with this "unofficial amnesty", and after surrendering numerous unregistered weapons in this manner, the  Member surrenders to a licensed firearms dealer a  incomplete Intratec AB10 semi auto pistol offered to him by a unlicensed person.  The  Member then legally acquires this weapon off this dealer with a permit to acquire.

11.04.03 - One week later the Member is raided by OCIG who claim they are doing a 'weapons audit'.  All handguns in the Member's possession are examined and photographed, including the AB10 acquired one week before.

01.07.03 - Handgun buyback begins.  The  Member declines to hand in the registered AB10, which is the only example in QLD.

29.06.04 - The  Member places the AB10, less spare parts common to his registered weapon,  in the custody of a licensed firearms dealer.

22.10.04 - Appeal begins; The Member appeals against WLB ruling, seeking to establish that the AB10, already on the Member's collector's licence, is a collectable firearm.  During the course of the proceedings, the Magistrate makes an indication of his intention to find, and asks WLB if they wish to concede.  They decline, and the part-heard hearing is adjourned until February 2005, ostensibly to complete the WLB case.

22.11.04 - The  Member is offered a concealable IMI UZI firearm, and registers it under the official amnesty

15.12.04 - Following comments in the Media by Police Minister Judy SPENCE to the effect that after the official amnesty ends, there will be no more firearms amnesties, the  writes to the Minister, Judy SPENCE, enquiring whether an "unofficial amnesty" would still continue after the official amnesty ends.

31.12.04 - The Official amnesty ends.

11.01.05 - Ten days after the official amnesty ends, the  Member is raided by OCIG and WLB, who confiscate all registered firearms in his possession, including weapons and spare parts which had been registered under the official amnesty.

24.01.05 - Judy SPENCE replies to the correspondence. You be the Judge of what she says.

(Download the Police Minister's Letter)

22.04.05 - In a newsletter to licensed firearms dealers from the WLB, Police Minister Judy SPENCE thanks everyone for participation in the official amnesty, and confirms the unofficial amnesty still continues.

03.06.05 - The  Member is charged with unlawful possession of the Intratec Tec DC9 and the spare AB10 bolt, which was part of the AB10 registered under the unofficial amnesty, and unlawful possession the other weapon registered under the official amnesty. 

 
 
 


 

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H

S.35 of the Weapons Act
* The Smart State replaces the Sunshine State on our Licence tags