COMPULSORY jail terms for people caught with stolen firearms could be scrapped in a push by Western Tiers independent MLC Greg Hall. The state government is proposing sweeping reforms to the state’s firearm laws, including mandatory three-month jail terms for people found in possession of stolen guns. Police Minister Rene Hidding has described the proliferation of stolen guns as a ‘‘deadly serious’’ issue for Tasmania, arguing minimum sanctions coupled with stricter storage requirements would reduce rates of theft. MLCs yesterday received briefings on the proposed changes before launching into debate last night. Mr Hall emerged from the briefings determined to see the mandatory sanctions quashed, despite supporting minimum jail time for serious assaults on police. He said mandatory sanctions weren’t needed for possessing stolen firearms, and he would instead push for tough maximum penalties. Under his changes, first-time offenders with clean records caught with one gun would face up to five years in prison, while those known to police found with multiple firearms could spend 21 years behind bars. ‘‘These penalties will provide the big stick we need without stripping away the discretion of the courts,’’ he said. Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin last night told MLCs that mandatory sentences would strongly deter those considering becoming involved in the stolen gun trade, but would not rule out dropping the measures. ‘‘We won’t pre-empt the outcome of the debate in the Legislative Council, and we look forward to members’ contributions,’’ a spokesman for Dr Goodwin said. Tasmanian Law Society president Matthew Verney staunchly opposes the minimum sanctions. ‘‘Mandatory sentencing generates unjust outcomes and disproportionate penalties,’’ he said. ‘‘It has been tried elsewhere ... and there is no evidence from any of those jurisdictions to suggest that it is successful in reducing criminal offending.’’ Upper house debate on the gun reforms will resume this morning.
COMPULSORY jail terms for people caught with stolen firearms could be scrapped in a push by Western Tiers independent MLC Greg Hall.
The state government is proposing sweeping reforms to the state’s firearm laws, including mandatory three-month jail terms for people found in possession of stolen guns.
Police Minister Rene Hidding has described the proliferation of stolen guns as a ‘‘deadly serious’’ issue for Tasmania, arguing minimum sanctions coupled with stricter storage requirements would reduce rates of theft.
MLCs yesterday received briefings on the proposed changes before launching into debate last night.
Mr Hall emerged from the briefings determined to see the mandatory sanctions quashed, despite supporting minimum jail time for serious assaults on police.
He said mandatory sanctions weren’t needed for possessing stolen firearms, and he would instead push for tough maximum penalties.
Under his changes, first-time offenders with clean records caught with one gun would face up to five years in prison, while those known to police found with multiple firearms could spend 21 years behind bars.
‘‘These penalties will provide the big stick we need without stripping away the discretion of the courts,’’ he said.
Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin last night told MLCs that mandatory sentences would strongly deter those considering becoming involved in the stolen gun trade, but would not rule out dropping the measures.
‘‘We won’t pre-empt the outcome of the debate in the Legislative Council, and we look forward to members’ contributions,’’ a spokesman for Dr Goodwin said.
Tasmanian Law Society president Matthew Verney staunchly opposes the minimum sanctions.
‘‘Mandatory sentencing generates unjust outcomes and disproportionate penalties,’’ he said.
‘‘It has been tried elsewhere ... and there is no evidence from any of those jurisdictions to suggest that it is successful in reducing criminal offending.’’
Upper house debate on the gun reforms will resume this morning.
