Victoria (Australia) Police: Banning semi-automatic handguns won't take such guns off the street

This news article misses the point that even to the extent that a ban takes some guns from criminals, that is offset by the fact that victims are easier targets.  From The Age newspaper:

Banning semi-automatic handguns won't take such guns off the street, Victoria Police has told a federal inquiry into gun violence. 

Victoria Police told the submission such a ban "would most likely have little effect on the number of illegally held firearms in Australia". 

"The majority of semi-automatic handguns seized are from criminals who are prohibited persons," the submission says. "It is unclear whether a ban on semi-automatic weapons will diminish their ability to obtain such weapons." 

It also warns that a ban could make it more profitable to import such weapons illegally, potentially pushing the market even further underground. . . . 

"It is likely that 3D printing of firearms will increase, posing a significant risk to community safety and law enforcement agencies," the submission says. . . .

By the way, there has just been an attack where three people were killed in a shooting attack in Australia.  Again from The Age newspaper:

Two men and a woman are dead and a man has been arrested following a shooting and siege north-west of Melbourne that police say was triggered by a neighbourhood dispute.  

Police were called to the property, near Wedderburn and about 210km from Melbourne, about 8.30pm on Wednesday after reports of a minor dispute between neighbours. 

Fairfax Media can confirm that Peter Lockhart, president of the Wedderburn Historical Engine and Machinery Society, his wife Mary Lockhart, and Mrs Lockhart's son Greg Holmes died on Wednesday night. . . .