Anzac Day without the bang
Geelong Advertiser, Page: 4. Thursday, 9 April, 2009
Geelong’s Anzac Day military reenactments are under threat from new changes to gun legislation. The State Government changed the Firearms Act in June 2008 so that imitation firearms need to be registered and owners licensed as if they were real guns.
The legislation is subject to a moratorium which ends in December this year, after which owners could be forced to pay up to $900 every three years to renew their gun licenses.
Geelong Military Reenactment Group president Robin Mawson that up until 2008, there was no license requirement for members wanting to own an imitation firearm.
The group performs every year at Anzac Day commemorations around Geelong and are one of the most active re-enactment groups in Victoria.
“Some of our members will have to get up to three licenses, which will cost them between $700 and $900 every three years,” he said.
“Our imitation firearms are essentially well-made toys and that is an absolutely ridiculous cost for a hobby. It could definitely stop us from taking part or reduce the scope of our performances on events like Anzac Day.”
Mr Mawson said the group had not been consulted with before the changes to the legislation were made and that he only found out about the changes after sending a request to Victoria Police to import an imitation longarm.
“One member has a wooden imitation Thompson sub-machine-gun that would require registration and licensing. These longarms are made from wood or plastic and not capable of firing and do not pose any threat to the community in a reenactment context,” he said.
“If it is already an offence to use an imitation firearm in the course of committing a crime, why is registration of that imitation also required? You have to wonder why the change is suddenly required and if it is nothing more than revenue raising.”
Mr Mawson said the group was seeking exemption from the act but had been unable to get any clarification on the confusing legislation.
“It is complete bureaucratic bungle, they haven’t looked at how it will disadvantage us at all,” he said.
A Department of Justice spokeswoman said the legislation struck a balance between targeting the illegitimate use of imitation weapons in crime and supporting the interests of firearms collectors and historical re-enactors.
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