MEMBERS from up to half a dozen motorcycle clubs may challenge the seizure of
their weapons and cancellation of their firearms licences by police. Police from
the anti-bikie Echo Taskforce swooped on more than 30 properties across the
state last month, seizing hundreds of guns - many of them registered - after
Chief Commissioner Ken Lay decided the owners were not ''fit and proper''
persons to own the weapons.
Senior police described it as a blow against outlaw motorcycle gxxgs, saying the public would be horrified to discover that members of the clubs had access to registered firearms. However, members of the Tramps and Immortals motorcycle clubs have asked the Chief Commissioner to reverse his decision, and will push ahead with a legal challenge if he does not.
The Age believes members of another four clubs have also challenged the decision, but was either unable to confirm this, or the members in question did not wish to comment. Tramps president Ronny Harding said the characterisation by police of his Wangaratta-based club as an outlaw motorcycle gxxg was completely wrong, and that club members had no criminal convictions beyond traffic offences. Other motorcycle clubs whose members were targeted in the raids have also disputed their characterisation as ''outlaw motorcycle gxxgs''.
Senior police described it as a blow against outlaw motorcycle gxxgs, saying the public would be horrified to discover that members of the clubs had access to registered firearms. However, members of the Tramps and Immortals motorcycle clubs have asked the Chief Commissioner to reverse his decision, and will push ahead with a legal challenge if he does not.
The Age believes members of another four clubs have also challenged the decision, but was either unable to confirm this, or the members in question did not wish to comment. Tramps president Ronny Harding said the characterisation by police of his Wangaratta-based club as an outlaw motorcycle gxxg was completely wrong, and that club members had no criminal convictions beyond traffic offences. Other motorcycle clubs whose members were targeted in the raids have also disputed their characterisation as ''outlaw motorcycle gxxgs''.