TWO men have been charged with weapons offences after separate incidents where they fired shots in Charters Towers.
The shootings have prompted warnings from senior police, who are cracking down on the use of illegal firearms across the State.
In the latest incident, a 69-year-old man fired shots in the air after a scuffle with another man on Kirkbride Street in Charters Towers on Saturday night.
Police will allege the offender first punched his 51-year-old victim in the mouth, before going inside his house and returning with a rifle.
The man then fired several shots in the air in the direction of the victim.
He was charged with one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, threatening violence, discharge weapons in a public place and unlawful possession of a weapon. He was due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court today.
It comes after police charged a 21-year-old man for similar offences at a Charters Towers camping ground last week.
Police allege that on August 4, the man armed himself with a firearm and fired a number of shots near a group of people who were camped in the area.
He was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon whilst under the influence of liquor or a drug, dangerous conduct with a weapon, discharge a weapon in a public place and unlawful possession of suspected stolen property.
The man is due to face the Charters Towers Magistrates Court on September 3.
Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) Detective Inspector Mick Dowie, who also heads the Drug and Serious Crime Group, said they were working closely with the regions to stamp out the inappropriate use and storage of firearms.
Insp Dowie said police were hardening their stance on firearm storage, to ensure weapons did not fall into the wrong hands.
“We urge people to secure them appropriately when they are not being used,” Insp Dowie said.
“They are a valuable commodity in the world of organised crime, and responsible ownership is paramount.”