A morning commuter passes behind a machine gun mounted on a military vehicle after Thai army took positions in central Bangkok May 20, 2014.
A morning commuter passes behind a machine gun mounted on a military vehicle after Thai army took positions in central Bangkok May 20, 2014. Thailand's army declared martial law on Tuesday to restore order after six months of anti-government protests which have left the country without a proper functioning government, but the move did not constitute a coup, military officials said. Reuters/Stringer

The Victoria Police have recently warned gun owners to refrain from carelessly publicising their weapons via different social media outlets, like Instagram and Facebook. Police have expressed their disgust with "firearm selfies," which is currently the latest trend in social media.

Apparently, there has been an increase in the number of people who post photos of themselves and publicly advertising their ownership of guns with a certain level of negligence and without thinking of the consequences. Aside from the indiscreet posting of selfies with firearms, police also warned gun owners against reckless storage of their guns.

According to Senior Sergeant Andrew Armstrong of the Victoria Police Licensing and Regulation Division, criminals use the social media networks to search for easy targets or possible victims and the items of interest, which include ammunition and other forms of weaponry. The officer also adds that personal information of can now be easily captured through public profiles and unsecured accounts. Public display of firearm ownership including stickers on vehicles or even stickers on house windows can entice attention from law breakers.

The Victoria Police also warned that licence holders need to me more responsible in displaying and storing their firearms. Based on Sydney Morning Herald's report, failure to practice care in handling firearms will result in penalties ranging from around $8,000 or 12 months imprisonment to $35,000 or four years imprisonment depending on the firearm's category.

In addition, the Victoria Police has shared some helpful tips on how to be a more responsible gun owner. First is to make sure that the firearm receptacle is surely locked and located out of sight of doors and windows. Second, if the firearm is stored in a shed the owner must ensure that the weapon is not visible plus the tools and keys must not be easily accessible to criminals. Third, if owner possesses fifteen firearms or more, the property must have an alarm system installed. Lastly, gun owners who will travel away from home can consider storing their guns with a licenced dealer or they can also file an Absence of Residence form to their local police station.