A Brief Overview of Australian Gun Laws

In Australia, there is currently no uniformed national firearms legislation for the entire country. The Commonwealth controls the importation of firearms. At the same time, each State and Territory has its own laws & regulations related to ownership and use of firearms, as well as gun sales in Australia.

In Australia, it is relatively straightforward to purchase a firearm; however, you do need to have a genuine reason to purchase the weapon. For example, if you are a member of a target shooting club, or you are a hunter, you must show evidence of this. Written permission from a landowner where you want to hunt, joining a hunting club or a target shooting club will usually suffice. Handguns are heavily restricted, on the other hand. To purchase any weapon, you need to undergo a police background check with a cooling-off period of thirty days and undergo a firearms safety course. If you would like to own a firearm in Australia, it’s important to be aware of a few key aspects of Australian gun law. 

Let’s take a look at a few key components of Australian gun law to help you to gain a better understanding of the legislation. 

Establishment Of Gun Categories

The Australian government has established different categories of guns, with each category requiring its own license. Category A is for 22 shotguns and air rifles and does not include any semi-automatic weapons. Category B was assigned to centerfire rifles. In this category, there are also no semi-automatics allowed and you need to provide a solid reason as to why you want a more powerful forearm.

Category C is designed for farmers which allows them to own a semiautomatic shotgun or a .22 but the number of shots they can have is limited to five and ten respectively. Category D is for semiautomatic rifles and guns. You must be a professional shooter and be able to provide evidence that you have a registered business where you earn an income from shooting. 

The H Category is for handguns, and you must be a member of a target pistol club to attain this license. You must also complete at least eight shooting competitions each year; otherwise, your license is revoked.

Category G is reserved for gun collectors. To gain this license, you need to attend at least one gun collectors meeting each year.

Registration And Storage Inspections

Before the 1996 National Firearms Agreement, in Australia, you didn’t have to register your guns. However, nowadays, your guns need to be registered. What’s more, the police are required to inspect how you store your firearms. While they are not required to give you notice of the inspection, typically they will call ahead to make sure you are home. If you own more than fifteen pistols, you also must have a monitored alarm installed that will alert the police of the break-in immediately. 

Transportation Laws

If you are bringing your gun from one place to another in Australia, you need to have a trigger lock on the weapon. This prevents someone from taking your weapon from you by force and being able to fire it. Firearms are never allowed to be transported while they are loaded, and all ammunition must be transported in a separate locked container. These laws are designed to keep the public safe and to prevent any misuse of guns legally owned by members of the public. 

Take Some Time To Understand Your Local Gun Laws

As gun laws differ from one state to the next in Australia, it’s important that you take some time to study the laws in your local State or Territory. Following the local laws, you can ensure that you don’t end up in trouble with the police and that you meet all of your obligations as an Australian gun owner. These laws are created to keep everyone safe, and it’s important that we are all responsible and do our best to abide by them for everyone’s benefit.

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