April 5, 2019
“Bump stocks” which turn a semi-automatic rifle into a rapid-fire fully automatic weapon are now illegal in Queensland.
Police Minister Mark Ryan welcomed the amendment to Section 8 of the Weapons Categories Regulation 1997 which makes bump stock devices a Category R weapon.
Bump stocks use the recoil generated by a shot to increase the firearm’s rate of fire.
Mr Ryan said the State Government had been keen to address the issue of bump stocks in the wake of a mass shooting in Las Vegas where they were used.
On October 1, 2017, a man fired 1100 rounds into a crowd of concertgoers during a 10-minute shooting spree from a hotel room window; 58 people were killed and 851 injured, either via gunfire or during the ensuing panic.
“That’s why we are prohibiting individuals from possessing bump stocks and placing them in the Weapons Categories Regulation as a Category R weapon,” Mr Ryan said.
Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said increasing a firearm’s firing speed greatly increased the harm that may be caused and posed a significant risk to public safety.
“Possession of such a device undermines the national prohibition on fully-automatic weapons, as well as the firearm registration system, which aims to control the type and capacity of any firearm an individual may possess,” Commissioner Stewart said.
“Not only does this protect us from future sales of ‘bump stocks’ that may have been used to cause harm, but unlawful possession of a Category R weapon carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.
“If you are in possession of a bump stock you should immediately take it to your local police station and surrender it.”
A ban on bump stocks went into effect in the United States on March 26.
Conspiracy theories flooded social media in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting, with survivors accused of being liars or paid actors, hired to justify tightening gun laws.
