Gun owners urged to surrender unlicensed weapons

Authorities warn illegal guns are making owners a target for criminals as they ramp up the push for people to hand in their weapons.

It’s estimated there are about 200,000 illicit firearms in Australia. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Fears are growing about the number of illegal firearms still in Victoria as authorities warn that criminals are searching for them and stealing them from properties.

Gun owners are being urged to surrender unlicensed weapons or risk being the targets.

New figures show that ­almost 20 per cent fewer guns were handed in across the state last year than in the previous 12 months.

At least 2665 firearms were given to Victorian police and licenced dealers under the permanent national firearms ­amnesty.

Senior Sergeant Steve Farrar from Victoria Police Ballistics Unit with seized illegal and unregistered firearms. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

This included more than 1000 rifles, 700 shotguns, 550 air rifles and 125 handguns.

The Australian Criminal ­Intelligence Commission in June estimated there were about 200,000 illicit firearms in Australia.

Victorian Crime Stoppers chief executive Stella Smith said she believed that figure was conservative, adding she was concerned about community safety because people often did not report stolen ­unlicensed guns because they feared getting into trouble.

Ms Smith said farmers on rural properties were often the targets of criminals.

“If you own that unregistered gun, and you think it doesn’t matter because the police will never know, then you’d actually be relying on the person who stole it from you to protect you,” she said.

“Make no mistake, an unregistered gun is an illegal gun … you can be charged for it.”

The number of weapons surrendered in Victoria was down 19 per cent on the 3279 weapons handed over in the amnesty’s second year.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said a drop was to be expected but that “every illegal weapon that is removed makes the community safer”.

His department warned the number of weapons handed in would plateau without further intervention.

“To increase surrenders, ­especially from more reluctant firearms owners, future campaign strategies will need to identify and target gaps in the first year’s campaign,” its ­report stated.

Almost 17,550 firearms were surrendered nationwide in the first year of the amnesty compared to 12,190 last year.

About 3.9 million firearms are registered nationwide.