Captain Bligh Ups Gun Licence by 124% !!!

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Gun buffs pay more, but can load up online
TONY MOORE
June 5, 2010 - 3:00AM
Fees for weapons licences in Queensland will more than double after Tuesday's State Budget, it was revealed late yesterday.

The fee increase was revealed in the last paragraph of a release from Police Minister Neil Roberts about a new online weapon licence system which starts in the second half of 2010.

"Developing the new online capabilities will allow members of the public to submit their details on the internet, freeing up police officers and civilian staff to undertake other functions," Mr Roberts said.

Despite trumpeting the new system as more effective, gun-owners will still have to pay 124 per cent more to renew their licence.

Until August 1, the cost for shooters would remain $93.95 over five years. After that date, the cost will jump to $210.75.

East Brisbane gun shop owner Dale Rodgers said he did not think the new system would make it easier for people who should not own a weapon to get their hands on a gun.

"It is not going to make it any more dangerous or less secure or anything," he said.

"From an industry point of view I see it as a good thing because it is going to assist dealers in providing a faster service than what there is available."

Police said the new online system would stop repetitive trips to the police station.

Currently, to get a weapons licence under Queensland's paper-based system now, gun-owners are required to:

- go through a firearms safety proficiency course and get a "certificate of competency in handling a firearm";

- apply for a "weapons licence" from the weapons registry at their local police centre; and

- go back to to the police and get "an application for a permit to acquire", which then goes back to the weapon licensing branch.

That application then gets vetted and then comes back as a "permit to acquire", at which point the prospective gun owner:

- goes back to weapons dealer and choose a weapon, at which point there is a requirement to provide a drivers license and the "permit to acquire"; and

- identifies the weapon on the "permit to acquire", which gives gun-owners a weapon's license.

Mr Rodgers said the new system would free up uniformed police, who have to cross-check work by civilian staff.

"It sure sounds like a price grab to me," he said.

A Weapons Licensing Branch spokesman said if the new online system worked as planned, most applications could be finalised within the 28-day cooling period.

"It takes about six weeks now, but can take up to 10 weeks," he said.

The WLB spokesman said he doubted there could be an increase in identity fraud.

"For us to issue a licence we have to validate the person, the address and the genuine reason why they want it, for example `shooting on their property' - and that property has to be on our system," he said.

"Then the person has to provide us with 100 points of identity, so a passport or a driver's licence as well as other ID that includes your address...

"So I would say it is very difficult to manage that identity fraud and if there is any suspicion that the person is not who they say there are, we have the power to require a person to provide us with fingerprints."