The case confirms that aggravated possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol by a person with a prior conviction for armed robbery involving a handgun, travelling with outlaw motorcycle gang members for an unlawful purpose, falls in the high range of seriousness for firearms offences under s 11 of the Firearms Act 1977 (SA). A starting point of five years imprisonment (half the maximum) was not manifestly excessive. Interstate separation from family does not constitute exceptional hardship warranting sentence reduction, particularly where the offender has previously been warned of the consequences of imprisonment on family.
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