Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

Does this mean that Police Minister David Campbell belongs to a Transformers Club now?

Wow. Another reason to not live in Au. At least here in the US we can get it if they plug the tip with a removeable orange plug.

DorkimusPrime wrote:Some Aussie government officials have their pretty pink panties in a wad over nothing...

Not true.

A number of years ago a little event occurred called the "Port Arthur Massacre". One man walked into a restaurant and let loose with his guns, as far as I know it's still the record.

Following that there was a massive crackdown on guns in Australia. Automatic and semi-automatic were banned completely. The Government also funded a buy-back scheme where owners turned in theirs guns and got paid for them, that stockpile was subsequently destroyed.

Then they tightened licensing laws. On top of that they also tightened laws regarding "replica firearms".

The original G1 Megatron was in fact banned in certain States of Australia back in the 80's when he was used in an armed hold-up.

So that's why Megatron has now been classed as a replica firearm. Little bit over-sized? Yes. But how many people working a convenience store will notice that when there's some masked person waving a gun at their face?

Yeah, it is a toy, but unfortunately he (both MP and G1) can be considered replica firearms. I'd much rather these rules stay in place than have them softened.

So yeah, you may think it's a stupid rule, but you don't realise what lead to these rules being introduced in the first place, and i'm glad the rules were changed to prevent something like that.

Has there ever been a report of this toy being used in a crime Ever anywhere? Guess so

Burn said:The original G1 Megatron was in fact banned in certain States of Australia back in the 80's when he was used in an armed hold-up

I am all for gun control to dam many of them and they hurt .
The goverment does not have the sense god gave a green apple and no matter what we still do it there way.
Silly humans will you never learn.

Clusterprime

Cant believe Port Arthur was 11 years ago...

What really gets me riled up is that they are trying to stop as many MP Megatron's entering the country, yet doing absolutely nothing about the Encore Megatron's, or any of the hundreds of correct scale "toy" guns you can get in $2 shops.

It reeks of a money making exercise.

Loki41872 wrote:That's why on census forms or loan applications I allways check the "Native American" box. I'm not a member of a tribe, but I was born here, thus I'm "Native".

While funny as hell you do raise a valid point

i_amtrunks wrote:It's serious Leige.

And each State has slightly different rules, laws, by-laws and loopholes. For Example people from New South Wales (where I come from) had alot of problems with importing MP05 Megatron, but as yet no complaints about Encore Megatron.
Victoria and South Australia had some issues but many fans reported getting their figures problem free.

Go figure.

See this is why I live with an outlaw mentality. I'm not looking to do wrong to anybody unless they do it to me first.

But on that same note, while there are many rules set up to provide safety and well being to general populace. Some are just irrational when their inital intent is misconstrued in examples such as this.

Thats why I say, subvert these laws, show the folly of a good idea gone bad, and get that idea back on the path it was origionaly ment for.

Civilization in general will be better off for it.

Examples of this are The Civil War, WWII, Tenimen Square, That ime Ernie and I walked out of class cause teacher called him a name that should just die out, and so on and so on....

Failure to challange a system only leads to once noble ideas turn to events like this.

Orange plugs are one thing, but this is something that should be shown to any system to show it's ignorance in aplied policy.

I live half a world away, but show me a petition, and I'll sign it!

Let this statment be my adendem.

i_amtrunks wrote:Cant believe Port Arthur was 11 years ago...

What really gets me riled up is that they are trying to stop as many MP Megatron's entering the country, yet doing absolutely nothing about the Encore Megatron's, or any of the hundreds of correct scale "toy" guns you can get in $2 shops.

It reeks of a money making exercise.

It's a good example of officials setting their sight on something without taking in the whole matter.

So you want to jump up and down to repeal laws set up to protect the general populace ... all because of a toy?

Yeah ... no thanks, i'll look at the bigger picture. Someone care to quote the figures from America when the gun laws were softened over there a few years back?

Of course the hypocritical thing is that while I support these gun laws, I do own a MP Megatron, a G1 Megatron, a G1 Megaplex and a G1 Browning but i'd much rather get the appropriate permits than fight a law that's prevented another Port Arthur.

Burn wrote:For those who may have missed all the news a few months ago when Masterpiece Megatron was released, a number of Australian collectors found their MP Megatron's seized by Australian Customs.

They had decided that MP Megatron was to be classified as a "replica firearm" and could only be imported if you had appropriate licenses and what not.

Not all Megatron's were seized and some made it through, but a number of them were which spurred Australian Collector Tiby (a practicing Lawyer) into action to help his fellow collectors get their hands on Megatron without too much hassle.

The result hasn't been highly overwhelming but the Government and Customs have made regulations for collectors to import and own Megatron legally.

The full story

Tiby wrote:Announcement on 25 September 2007 by Police Minister David Campbell. Click here

I am setting up a collector's club which will be open for collectors to join, and thereby fulfil one of the requirements for owning Masterpiece Megatron. To quote the Minister, the requirements are as follows:

· Undergoing a criminal and probity check;

· Providing a genuine reason for ownership of the toy;

· Providing proof of membership to a collector’s club; and

· Abiding by safe storage, surrender and disposal requirements.

The criminal and probity check is a Firearms Registry requirement, and usually done by local police.

A genuine reason for ownership of the toy is that a person is a collector of Transformers.

Proof of membership of a collector's club will be part of what I will provide in the club.

Safe storage includes a locked cabinet. I recommend the following:

Display and Rack Systems

I will update this site as the club progresses with more details on how to join.

Thanks for your support!

The collector's club he's setting will no doubt be Australian only, however if you're Australian and already a member of the international club that should cover you.

Either way, plenty of hoops to jump through just to own a toy.