Oh imagine that, the black market stepping in to satisfy demand of a restricted commodity. When has that ever happened before? <cough> prohibition, <ahem> war on drugs!
Interesting article! I've got family that lives in Melbourne. Next time I talk to them, I'll have to ask them about it.
The other thing that struck me about the article were the strong similarities to the crime, violence, and smuggling that happened here due to Prohibition.
While guns have always been available to criminals determined to get them, there appears to have been a major cultural shift in how they are regarded - and used.
The new breed of underworld players, which veteran criminals privately deride as self-aggrandising “Facebook gangsters”, consider firearms a status symbol as much as a tool of the trade, sources say.
In this environment, even minor disputes quickly escalate to drive-by shootings or attacks in public places.
“We've seen this trend where a lot of the organised crime groups, hardened criminals used to carry firearms and use them,” Assistant Commissioner Fontana says. “Now we're seeing a lot of people with guns that are involved in minor, petty crimes, and they're prepared to use them.”