The
following information was sourced from the Firearms Laws, Issue
2, 1998
Note: Although this information is for Victorian applicants, it
can be used as a
general guide for other States and Territories.
|
State
Licensing Contacts:
State |
Phone |
Internet |
ACT |
(02)
6245 7405 |
|
NSW |
1300
362 562 |
|
NT |
(08)
8922 3541 |
|
QLD |
(07)
3364 4416 |
|
SA |
(08)
8204 2495 |
|
TAS |
(03)
6230 2720 |
|
VIC |
(03)
9247 3227 |
|
WA |
(08)
9223 7000 |
|
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| Requirements
Under
Section 10 of the State's Firearms Act:
The Chief Commissioner must not issue a longarm license for category
A or B longarms unless the applicant can demonstrate that the license
is required for one or more of the following reasons -
- for sport
or target shooting;
- for hunting;
- for primary
production;
- for the occupation
of security guard or prison guard;
- for an official
or commercial purpose or for a purpose authorised by the Act or
regulations.
Before any license
can be issued, under Section 10 (2) (a)-(e) all applicants must
provide written proof that they:
- are a member
of an approved club, or
- have permission
to hunt on private land, or hold a game license under the Wildlife
Act 1975, or
- have the
appropriate occupational prerequisites.
A twenty-eight
day waiting period applies to first time applicants only.
Field and Game Australia members (who were in pocession of a semi
auto shotgun prior to Novemer 1995) are eligible to apply for category
C licence for competitive target shooting only at an approved range.
Anyone seeking a license for a category D or E longarm, a handgun
or a firearm collection must provide a full set of their fingerprints.
Anyone seeking a firearm collectors license has to have been "a
member of an organisation of firearm collectors approved by the
Chief Commissioner" for at least six months.
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Hunting
The
Department of Sustainability and Environment issues game licenses for the taking
of particular species under the State's Wildlife Act (1975).
Hunting is permitted on private property with appropriate permission.
Hunting is also permitted on Crown land in accordance with relevant
State Acts and regulations and in certain areas of State forest. |
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| Moving
Interstate
Under
Section 185 of the Firearms Act Victoria recognises licenses issued
in other states. However, visiting shooters must abide by the State's
various laws and regulations. License holders who move to the State
permanently must notify the Chief Commissioner of their intention,
in which case their out-of-state license for category A and B firearms
is valid for three months. In the case of category C and D longarms
and all handguns however, the period is only seven days.
|
Junior
Applicants
Under
Section 18 of the Firearms Act the Chief Commissioner may issue a
license for a category A, B, or C longarm or a handgun to individuals
down to the age of 12 years provided they are engaging in competition
shooting. |
Security
Requirements
It
is a general rule under the firearm laws that a person who is carrying
or using a firearm must:
- Ensure that
the firearm is carried and used in a manner that is secure and
not dangerous;
- Take reasonable
precautions to ensure that the firearm is not lost or stolen;
and
- Not permit
the firearm to be carried or used by a person who is not authorised
to do so.
It is also a
general rule that if more than 15 firearms are stored at any one
premises, the premises must be fitted with an effective alarm system.
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Storage
Requirements
Victoria’s
firearm laws have clear and comprehensive storage standards for all
firearm licenses which are drawn from the National Firearms Agreement. Under
the firearm laws there are also specific storage requirements for
different firearm licenses.
These requirements are set out below: |
Category A or B Firearms
The
firearm must be stored in a receptacle which:
- Is constructed
of hard wood or steel so that it is not easily penetrable;
- If it weighs
less than 150 kilograms when empty, must be fixed to the frame
of floor or the wall of the premises; and
- Is locked
when any firearm is stored in it.
Any ammunition
must be stored in a separate locked container.
|
Category C or D Firearms or a Handgun License
The
firearm must be stored in a steel safe which:
- Is of a thickness
that is not easily penetrable;
- If it weighs
less than 150 kilograms when empty, must be bolted to the structure
of the premises; and
- Is locked
when any firearm is stored in it.
Any ammunition
must be stored in a separate locked container.
|
Firearm
Collectors
1. If the collector possesses not more than 15 category A or B longarms
under the collector's license, the firearms must be stored in
the same manner as set down for licenses for category A or B firearms.
2. If the collector possesses more than 15 category A or B longarms
or any number of other firearms, the firearms must be stored on premises
or a part of premises which is a permanent building with secure locks
on all openings.
The firearms must be stored in a room with:
- Walls solid enough to be a substantial physical barrier to entry;
- All windows covered by security bars;
- All doors made of a solid material or covered by steel sheet or steel mesh, fitted with strong locks and hinged with strong hinges;
- Inside the room, the firearms must be stored in another container which is made of steel or any other robust material, firmly fixed to the wall or floor of the room;
- The doors of the container must be attached with concealed or welded hinges and locked when any firearm is stored in it.
The firearms must not be removed from the container except by the holder of the license.
Any bolt or firing pin which is required to be stored separately from its firearm must be stored in the same manner as is required for the storage of a category A or B firearm. |
Ammunition
Collectors
Any
ammunition held under an ammunition collector's license must be stored
in the same manner as is required for the storage of a category A
or B firearm.
|
Heirlooms
Any
firearm held under an heirloom license must be stored in the same
manner as is required for the storage of a category A or B firearm
or may be displayed by being fixed to the wall of a room in a manner
that makes it unable to be readily removed. |
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