OFF THE WIRE
FIRST ON 7: 7News can expose a legal loophole allowing bikies to arm themselves, and police cannot stop them.
As officers today showed off illegal weapons they have seized, the Police Commissioner admitted he is frustrated by the loophole.
It comes just days after a motorcycle gang member shot a man with a gun he legally owned.
Ninety guns have been seized in New South Wales as part of a two-week national crackdown on illegal firearms Operation Unification.
"We've received 50 pieces of information that are in varying states of investigation," Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins said.
Twenty-six weapons were uncovered in one haul alone from an 86-year-old collector at Rydalmere.
"There are many members of motorcycle gangs that are licenced firearm holders," Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.
"It does cause us to think that there may be a better way. It does frustrate us from time to time."
Nomads bikie Matthew Zahra used his legally-owned and registered rifle to shoot a man in the back near Penrith eight days ago.
He said it was in self-defence.
Zahra does not have a criminal record so he can own a gun just like anyone else.
"As soon as we arm bikies we're going to see those guns misused," Gun Control Australia's Roland Browne said.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/17412865/police-frustrated-over-bikie-gun-law-loophole/
FIRST ON 7: 7News can expose a legal loophole allowing bikies to arm themselves, and police cannot stop them.
As officers today showed off illegal weapons they have seized, the Police Commissioner admitted he is frustrated by the loophole.
It comes just days after a motorcycle gang member shot a man with a gun he legally owned.
Ninety guns have been seized in New South Wales as part of a two-week national crackdown on illegal firearms Operation Unification.
"We've received 50 pieces of information that are in varying states of investigation," Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins said.
Twenty-six weapons were uncovered in one haul alone from an 86-year-old collector at Rydalmere.
"There are many members of motorcycle gangs that are licenced firearm holders," Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.
"It does cause us to think that there may be a better way. It does frustrate us from time to time."
Nomads bikie Matthew Zahra used his legally-owned and registered rifle to shoot a man in the back near Penrith eight days ago.
He said it was in self-defence.
Zahra does not have a criminal record so he can own a gun just like anyone else.
"As soon as we arm bikies we're going to see those guns misused," Gun Control Australia's Roland Browne said.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/17412865/police-frustrated-over-bikie-gun-law-loophole/