NSW gun amnesty ends today: Call for Ombudsman to judge effectiveness

"Latest police figures show 3,299 firearms have been surrendered during the amnesty, yet ironically almost four times that number of new gun registration applications were made during this time," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Premier Nathan Rees should request that the NSW Ombudsman investigate how beneficial firearm amnesties are in reducing gun crime and gun related accidents.

"Gun amnesties may be a good look for politicians but their value has been frequently questioned by experts.

"These regular government initiated amnesties would be much more useful if there was a legislative incentive behind such programs.

"Many more gun owners would turn in their weapons if it was illegal to own semi-automatic pistols. It is already illegal to possess a semi-automatic long arm.

"In the coming months I will bring before the NSW Upper House the Greens Bill to ban semi-automatic pistols under the Firearms Act.

"At the end of the day, gun amnesties are only one of many strategies that should be pursued to boost public safety and avoid gun-related injuries and death. While well-intentioned people might hand their guns in, there is no evidence that criminals do the same during amnesties.

"Latest NSW Crime Statistics show that although offences with prohibited and regulated weapons remain stable, there has been a 26 percent increase in the number of drive by shootings from 2007 to 2008.

"The easily concealed semi-automatic pistol should have been banned in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre, when semi-automatic long arms were prohibited," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

More on Lee Rhiannon's bill: http://lee.greens.org.au/index.php/content/view/2912/50/
Latest Minister for Police releases on the amnesty:
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/156385/20090525_gun_amnesty_update.pdf
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/155644/20090510_gun_amnesty_update.pdf