Sonny Fatu, president of the Waikato branch of the Mongrel Mob, said that, while some members of the gang may have illegal guns, they will not be handing them in as they are necessary to their protection.
“Will gangs get rid of their weapons? No. Because of who we are, we can’t guarantee our own safety,” he told Stuff.
He admitted many of the gang’s estimated 1000 associates hold illegal firearms but says they should be trusted not to harm innocent people.
Mongrel Mob leader says members won’t hand in their guns
I don’t think anybody was expecting that. I am as surprised as anyone.
[/sarcasm off]
The really surprising thing is not that they won’t give up their guns, but that the “President of the Waikato branch” of a gang makes a public statement and has his name and photo published. I think gangs in New Zealand are a bit different than the Mafia or MS-13.
I thought it was an Aprils Fool but it was released yesterday… damn.
I knew that was going to happen đŸ™‚