Government places gun dealers in its cross hairs
Firearms dealers who illegally supply weapons which are later used by criminals will face charges under new laws introduced by the South Australian Government.
Attorney General John Rau today announced further strengthening of the state’s firearms laws, which will now classify firearms trafficking as a serious offence.
Mr Rau said offenders who illegally supplied firearms would now be liable for stand-alone charges if the firearm was subsequently used to commit a criminal offence.
“Under these new laws we will be able to hold the trafficker of the firearm liable for an offence where the person they supplied it to uses the firearm to commit an offence,” he said.
“Our message for offender is - if you put a gun in the hands of an unlicensed person, then you must be prepared to wear the consequences of that action.”
According to the government, the new measures build upon a previous round of gun laws introduced in 2012.
“Those amendments strengthened the bail and sentencing laws applicable to persons charged with a serious firearm offence,” Mr Rau said.
“These changes build upon these laws so that trafficking a firearm will be classified as a serious firearm offence.
“By making firearm trafficking a serious firearm offence, offenders who are found guilty may only have their sentence suspended in exceptional circumstances.
“I want to send a strong message to our community. Trafficking and possessing illegal firearms is not acceptable.”
Mr Rau said today’s new laws would place increased pressure on people who illegally supplied firearms.
