A 26-year-old woman was reminded that ignorance of firearm laws is no excuse, when she was sentenced in Mudgee Local Court last Wednesday.
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Elizabeth Smith of Spring Creek Road, Yarrawonga, was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond for charges of possessing unauthorised and unregistered firearms, and a prohibited weapon without a permit.
At about 9am on Thursday, June 21, 2018, police served firearm and weapon prohibition orders on her and her partner’s house.
A BB-gun and air-rifle were located on top of a bookcase, neither of which had serial numbers.
A slingshot was found in a kitchen cupboard, which they said was bought online and used “to shoot cans”.
Neither of the co-accused held a firearms licence or permit to possess the slingshot.
Smith’s legal-aid solicitor, Matt Quill, said that his client “wasn’t aware they had to register them”.
However, Magistrate David Day retorted, “ah come on, she was four years old when the legislation came in, it’s been around her whole life”.
“She’s not living in the independent republic of Yarrawonga, it’s part of NSW, there are firearm laws,” he continued.
The court also heard that the weapons belonged to the defendant’s partner, however under the circumstances possession extended to include her.
“She was unlucky to be living in the same household as the true owner,” Magistrate Day conceded.
In his earlier submission, Mr Quill said that when Smith was younger “she hung out with the wrong crowd”.
And Magistrate Day responded, “it would appear she still is”.
The co-accused was adjourned to a later date.
