A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Saturday, 30 April 2016

Petition Update. Gun Paranoia Control.

Gun Paranoia, Toy Guns Illegal.
Keith Burgess
Armidale, Australia
30 APR 2016 — During a regular firearms check the attending Police Officer spotted a toy muzzle-loading pistol I had made many years ago for my 3 boys. The officer told me that if a member of the public were to see this toy gun & complain, that I could be charged with firearms offences.
I was hoping that my grandchildren could play with these toys, but now it seems that they can not. This paranoia gun control has to stop. PLEASE sign my petition.

"To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in Parliament assembled".
PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES.
Parliament House
6 Macquarie Street,
Sydney, NSW 2000.
The Petition of Keith H. Burgess.
President of the New England Colonial Living History Group.
Brings to the attention of the House the matter of firearms licensing in relation to muzzle-loading pistols (percussion locks excluded).
At this present time, working replica (replicas of original 17th and 18th century antique muzzle-loading pistols) muzzle-loading pistols of the lock types matchlock, wheellock, tinderlock, doglock, snaphance, and flintlock can only be owned by a person possessing a category H gun licence, and these pistols can only be legally fired on a registered gun range. This requirement excludes the use of these antique replicas for Living History and Historical Re-enactment purposes. It also excludes the use of these antique replicas for use as a back-up safety for muzzle-loader hunters hunting on private property who are hunting with single shot muzzle-loading rifles or smoothbores.
Historical Re-enactment groups and Living History organisations have re-enactment rules which preclude the use of live ammunition and preclude the use of a ramrod during any and all re-enactment displays. There is also a permit requirement; this permit is for historical re-enactment organisations wishing to conduct an historical re-enactment event involving the possession and use of firearms by participants. Clause 61 - Firearms Regulation 2006.
Replicas of muzzle-loading pistols of the lock types mentioned are slow to load and require a good deal of knowledge and training to ensure the workability of this type of gun. Ignition even when used by a competent person can not be guaranteed. Therefore these muzzle-loading guns are not suitable for criminal use.
The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly to change the licensing requirement for these replica antique muzzle-loading pistols (percussion locks excluded) from the present category H class licence to the category B class licence.



4 comments:

sharpenedaxe.com said...

It's time to leave Australia, Keith. It's absurd here in America, too, but not quite THAT bad!

Leatherworking Reverend said...

Keith, that copper is making stuff up. The Firearms Registry has a fact sheet on imitations and toys (your son's one would seem to be an imitation rather than a toy).

The fact sheet says:

A person is afforded an exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit for possession or use of an imitation of an antique firearm, but not an imitation antique revolver - see section 6A of the Act and clause 116 of the Firearms Regulation 2006.

The full sheet is at http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/140178/Imitation_Firearms_Permit_FACT_Sheet_Sep_2013_V1.4.pdf

Wayne

Keith said...

Much appreciated Wayne, I will check it out.
Regards, Keith.

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