Government warns gun owners

SYDNEY - The Australian government, besieged by angry gun owners over its plan to ban rapid fire weapons across the country, …

SYDNEY - The Australian government, besieged by angry gun owners over its plan to ban rapid fire weapons across the country, warned yesterday a referendum might be held if reforms become bogged down.

The deputy Prime Minister, Mr Tim Fischer, said a referendum was already being discussed "around the corridors" could "loom large" if the six states and two territories that enforce gun laws failed to implement the ban they agreed to in Canberra last month.