I've just reminded myself of the firearms categories. Monis had a pump-action shotgun which is a category C weapon and thus subject to quite stringent conditions. You can only get a licence for this weapon for some types of target shooting or primary production and for the target shooting you must first become a member of a target shooting club.

The police are probably right. Monis certainly isn't a farmer so that rules out primary production and going by his character I doubt he spent any time shooting clay pigeons.

Even security officers aren't allowed to carry pump-action shotguns anymore.

Now what you need to remember is that when people become politicians, they quickly catch a disease called naive stupidity, This normally afflicts them just after they realise that they can make laws and manifests as a warm & fuzzy feeling.

This warm & fuzzy feeling comes as they make a law, that makes it look like they have done something, but normally fails in every way possible, to address the underlying issue that caused the problem in the first place. Net achievement: Naught.

Now along that line; For the most part the only way that the authorities know you have a firearm of any description is if it is registered. If it is a "clean skin" and has never been registered, there you have the flaw in the system.

Yes, I think it would go without saying that a lot of roofspaces around the country became the 'safe storage' for firearms after registration became compulsory.

And after listening to the Galah's parroting on the news etc. Same dumb knee jerk logic as Port Arthur.

Bring in more gun laws to solve the problem: The problem is not the guns its the nutters that have them & in both cases these nutters should not have had guns. The current gun was a prohibited weapon so the question is where did he get it.

So one thing not addressed as it is too hard, & laws are easy (cop out), is the psychological profile of those wanting to be in possession of (not just owning) guns. Both Byant & Monis I believe had the known profile that said they should not have had so much as a water pistol.