Shadow Police Minister says Premier too soft on illegal firearm trafficking
by Andrew Tink MP
Member for Epping
Shadow Minister for Police
30 April 2001
The illegal trafficking of hand guns is overwhelmingly linked to drug trafficking and gang type activity and should be punished just as severely according to Shadow Police Minister Andrew Tink.
“Illegal firearms trafficking in New South Wales should carry the same 20 year maximum penalty as the supply of drugs on an ongoing basis,”Mr Tink said.
“But while the Premier has announced a firearms trafficking package in response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Cabramatta, his proposed 14 year penalty for firearms trafficking offences falls well short of the penalties for the ongoing supply of drugs.
“The recently released Crime Agencies’ 1999/2000 Annual Report said ‘Recently gang type activity has become more open and violent with the diffusion of guns, purchased with the profits of drug trafficking.’
“The problem is not with Category H hand gun owners licenced under the Firearms Act who have been required to be licenced since 1927 and they should not be targeted.
“The problem is with violent, organised criminals of the worst type whose gang activity is tied up with drug dealing.
“However the Premier’s proposed maximum 14 year penalty for gun trafficking goes nowhere near the 20 year penalty for the offence of supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis under Section 25A of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act.
“Yet the link between the trafficking of drugs and guns was acknowledged in Parliament by the Premier on 27th March 2001 when he said Cabramatta Police reported ‘evidence of the same people engaged in both illegal drug supply and firearms trafficking’.
“And 27th February 2001, the Carr Government voted down the Crimes Amendment (Firearms and Other Offensive Weapons or Instruments) Bill which would have dramatically increased penalties for the possession of firearms when committing other offences.
“The focus has got to be on those who illegally traffic in or possess firearms while committing crimes and the Carr Government has a long way to go,” Mr Tink said.
Media Contact: Andrew Tink (M) 0419 241 519 (PH) 9230 3383 (FAX) 9980 2043.
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