WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

STORAGE AND SECURITY OF FIREARMS (other than paint-ball firearms and deactivated firearms)

Examples1. LicenseeAhas5categoryAfirearms.Theymustbesecured inaLevel1safe unlesswrittenconfirmationfromtheRegistrarauthorisesuseofaPrescribedsafe (licenceholderon1July2017).2. LicenseeBisanewlicenceholderandobtainsacategoryHfirearmtouseata firearmsclub.ThefirearmmustbesecuredinaLevel2safe.3. LicenseeChas12categoryAfirearmsandlicenseeDhas10categoryBfirearms whichtheysecureinthefamilyhome.Togethertheyhold22firearmsandsowould requiretheminimumofaLevel2safewitheitheraCCTVsystemoranintruder alarmsystem(paint-ballfirearmsandRegistrarapproveddeactivatedfirearmsare notincludedinthesecounts).

TRANSITIONING FIREARMS SECURITY UPGRADES

Ifyouhaveafirearmslicenceon1July2017andyourfirearmsecurityarrangementsdonotcomplywiththenewsecurityrequirementsdetailedabove(includingthatyoudonotstoreyourfirearmsinaPrescribedsafe)youwillhaveatransitionperiodtoupgradeyoursecurityarrangements.So long as you secure your firearms in compliance with the FirearmsRegulations2008, youwill havea full 12months,until 1 July2018, to upgradeyoursecurity.

Storage of collector firearmsAswellascomplyingwiththerequirementsabove,afirearmcollectormustensurethateachfirearmheldunder the licencethatwasmanufacturedafter1900iskeptsecuredbylockingthebolt,breechblockorfiringpinofthefirearminacontainerkeptsecurelyfromthefirearm;orbyimmobilisingthetriggerofthefirearmbytriggerlock;orinanothermannerapprovedby theRegistrar. Collector firearms still requirewritten approval of theRegistrartobefired.

Joint storage of firearms and ammunitionIfyouarepermanentlyresidingat,oroccupyingapremiseswithanotherlicensee,youmaysecureyourfirearm(s)inasafeorstrongroomwheretheother licensee is securing their firearms,but youmust secureyourfirearm(s) inaseparate lockedcompartmentof thesafeorstrongroom;orsecurethemwithaseparatecableordevicewhichpreventsanotherlicenseefromunauthorisedaccess.Ammunitioncanalsobejointlystoredinthismannerwhenkeptinaseparatelockedcompartmentorcontainerwithinthesafeorstrongroompreventingunauthorisedaccess.

Short-term, temporary storage of firearms and ammunitionWhenyouareinpossessionofyourfirearm(s)andawayfromtheplacewhere your firearm(s) are normally kept (e.g. away from home on ahuntingtrip)youmustsecureyourfirearm(s)orammunitionbyusingthebestmeansreasonablyavailabletoyouinthecircumstances.

TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

Whenyouaretransportingafirearm(s)orammunitioninavehicle,vesseloraircraft:

• thefirearmmustbeunloaded;

• all reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent the firearm orammunitionfrombeinglost,stolenorcomingintothepossession ofanunauthorisedperson;

• thefirearmorammunitionmustbesecurelylockedinanyavailable boot, glove box, cupboard, compartment or container inwhich the firearmorammunitionmaybelocked;

• wheremorethan1suchcompartmentorcontainer,etc.isavailable thefirearm(s)andammunitionmustbesecuredseparatelyunlessit isnotreasonablypracticableinthecircumstances,ortodosowould notbeutilisingthebestsecuritymeansavailable;

• ifnotinalockedcompartment,etc.thefirearmorammunitionmust, sofarasreasonablypracticable,becovered,concealedorotherwise placedoutofsight;

• unlessnotreasonablypracticableorunlawful,firearmsorammunition mustnotbetransportedinacontainermarkedsuchthatindicatesit containsafirearmorammunition.

Yourfirearmmustnotbeleftinanunattendedvehicle,vesseloraircraftunless you have a reasonable excuse in the circumstances; and thevehicle,etc.issecurelylocked;andnotleftunattendedforlongerthanisreasonablynecessaryinthecircumstances.

EXEMPTIONS

A number of devices, including children’s toys and captive bolt guns,arestillexemptfromtheprovisionsoftheActandRegulations–refertoregulations5,42,43and44oftheRegulations.

Insomecircumstances,aperson,includinganinterstatevisitor,isexemptfromholdingafirearmslicenceinSouthAustraliawheninpossessionofafirearm.Furtherinformationontheseexemptionscanbefoundatsection8oftheActandregulations39and40oftheRegulations.

REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

If you are residing at or accessing premises where a firearm is kept,and you reasonably suspect another person who resides at or hasaccesstothatpremisesissufferingfromaphysicalormentalillness,oranother circumstance,which poses a threat to any person because ofthepresenceof thefirearm,youmustadvise theRegistrarassoonaspracticableofyoursuspicions.

Ifyouknow thatanotherpersonhas failed tosecure theirfirearm(s)orammunition in compliance with the Act or Regulations you must alsoadvisetheRegistrarassoonaspracticable.

Itisimportanttonotethatyouincurno civil or criminal liabilityinmakinga report in good faith,howeverthemakingofafalseorvexatiousreportisanoffence.

NOTIFICATIONS TO REGISTRAR

YoumustnotifytheRegistrarof:• the loss, theft, destruction or alteration of your firearm(s) within 24hoursofbecomingaware(oralreporttopolice)andwithin7days inwriting(totheRegistraronaPD309);

• a change in your nameor address (writtennotice to theRegistrar within14days);

• disposalofyourfirearm(s)toapersonoutsideSouthAustralia(written noticetotheRegistrarwithin7days).

FURTHER INFORMATION

FurtherinformationisavaliablefromtheSouthAustraliaPolicewebsiteatwww.police.sa.gov.au

TocontactSAPOL’sFirearmsBranch:Email:sapol.firearmsbranch@police.sa.gov.au Phone:73223346

Aggregate number of firearms Minimum security level and requirements

1-19firearms(categoryAorBfirearmsonly)

Level1safe;orPrescribedsafeiflicenceholderon1July2017(needswrittenconfirmationofRegistrar).

1-19firearms(whereatleastonefirearmisacategoryC,DorHfirearm)

Level2safe;orLevel1safe(needswrittenconfirmationofRegistrar);orPrescribedsafeif existing licence holder on 1 July 2017 (needswrittenconfirmationofRegistrar).

20-34firearms(firearmsofanycategory,butmustbelessthan30categoryH)

Level2safewiththepremisesinstalledwithaworkingCCTVsystem orworkingintruderalarmsystem.

35-49firearms(firearmsofanycategory,butmustbelessthan30categoryH)

Level2safewiththepremisesinstalledwithaworkingCCTVsystem andaworkingintruderalarm system.

50+firearmsofanycategory;or30+categoryHfirearms

StrongroomwiththepremisesinstalledwithaworkingCCTVsystemandaworkingintruderalarm system.

This information is provided to assist you to understandyourobligationsundertheFirearmsAct2015andFirearmsRegulations2017.Asasummaryof thekeyprovisionsofthelegislationonly,itshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeActandRegulations.

SECURITY OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

Firearms and ammunition storage locationUnless approved otherwise by theRegistrar, firearms and ammunitionmustbestoredatyourprincipalplaceofresidence;orifyoupossessthefirearmforthepurposeofyourbusiness,yourprincipalplaceofbusiness.WrittenadvicetotheRegistrarisrequiredpriortoachangeoflocation.

Ammunition storageAmmunitionmustbestoredseparatelyfromfirearmsinastronglymadetimber,metal,fibreglassorinjectionmouldedhardthermoplasticcontainerwithasubstantiallockingandhingemechanism.

Firearm storage devicesUnlessentitledtoutiliseaPrescribedsafe,youmustonlystorefirearmsinoneofthefollowingstoragedevices,dependingonthecategoryandnumberoffirearmspossessed:

Prescribed safe A Prescribedsafe isasteelsafewithaminimumof1.6mmthicksteelsidesanddoor.While itdoesnotmeet therequiredminimumstandard (2mmthicksteelsidesanddoors)requiredunderthenewlegislation,itwascommonlymadeandsold inpastyears.Oftenreferredtoasa ‘16gauge’safe,existinglicenseeswhoareusingthesesafestostoretheirfirearmsmaybeabletocontinuetousethemsubjecttocertainconditions.

Ifpriorto1July2017,youownedandusedasafethatisconstructedofsteelofaminimumof1.6mmthick(16gaugesafe),youmaynotifytheRegistrarinwritingofyourpossessionofthatsafeandyourintentiontocontinuetouseit tostoreupto19firearmsofanycategory(insteadofbeingrequired touseaLevel1orLevel2safe).Youwillbepermittedtousethatsafeforsecurityofupto19firearmsonlyifyouhavenotifiedthe Registrar (Firearms Branch) in writing before 1 July 2018 and theRegistrarhasconfirmedinwritingreceiptofyournotification.

REGISTRATION OF FIREARMS

How to register a firearmAny firearm you acquiremust be registered.Within 14 days of takingpossession, you must attend a police station to apply to register thefirearm,andatthattimeproducetopolice:

• theapprovedpermittoacquirethefirearm,includingthecompleted ‘WitnesstoTransfer’section(unlessbeingundertakenatthesame timeasregistration);

• avalidfirearmslicence;

• thefirearmsubjecttotheapplication;

• theregistrationapplicationfee.

Followingprocessing,aregistrationcertificatewillbeforwardedtoyou.

POSSESSION, ACQUISITION AND ASSEMBLY OF AMMUNITION

Ammunitionisthatsuitableforuseinafirearm,andincludesacartridgecasefittedwithaliveprimerandaprojectile,acartridgecasefittedwithaliveprimerandcontainingapropellingchargeandaprojectile,andliveprimers,propellantsandblankcartridges.Ammunitiondoesnot includeinertblankcartridges/drill rounds,snapcapsor itemsdesigned tofit inthebreechorchambertopreventdamagetothefiringpin,paint-ballsorair pellets.

Ammunition offencesAmmunition can only be acquired, owned or possessed by you if youholdafirearmslicenceauthorisingpossessionofafirearmofacategorydesignedtofirethatammunition(notincludingacollectorslicence);oranammunitionpermitgrantedundersection32oftheAct.

FIREARM SECURITY

Whennotinuse,yourfirearm(s)mustbeunloadedandstoredinasafeor strongroom.

Youmustensurethekey,keycodeorelectroniccombination,etc. toasafeorstrongroomdoesnotcomeintothepossessionorknowledgeofanunauthorisedperson.

Where a firearm of any category (other than a paint-ball firearm or deactivatedfirearm)isstoredinanoutbuilding(e.g.ashed)aminimumLevel2safemustbeusedtostorethefirearm(unlessyouareentitledtouseaPrescribedsafe).

Thelevelofsecurityrequiredbyyouisdependentonthecategoriesandtotalnumberoffirearmsbeingpermanentlykeptatyourpremisesbyalllicensees.Youwillneedapprovalof theRegistrar(FirearmsBranch)tochangeyourmanneroffirearmsecurity.

LICENCES

It is illegal to have possession of a firearmwithout holding a firearmslicenceauthorisingpossessionof thatfirearm,unless it isexemptedbytheAct,RegulationsortheRegistrar.Youmustfamiliariseyourselfandcomplywith all conditions of your licence and those set out in section 18oftheActandPart2,Division2oftheRegulations.

Ifyouareinphysicalpossessionorcontrolofafirearm,oraresupervisingtheuseofafirearm,youmustcarryyourfirearmslicenceoralegiblecopy(whichcanincludeanelectroniccopy).

CATEGORIES OF LICENCE

Afirearms licencewillbeendorsedwith thecategory(orcategories)oflicenceforwhichalicenseecanpossessoruseaparticularcategoryoffirearm.Theselicencecategoriesinclude:1. ShootingClub 5. PrimaryProduction 9. ShootingGallery2. TargetShooting 6. SecurityGuard 10. Collector3. Hunting 7. ContractShooter 11. Dealer4. Paint-ballShooting 8. CommercialRange 12. Miscellaneous

JUSTIFICATION FOR A LICENCE

Youmustbeafitandproperpersontoholdalicenceandhaveagenuinereason to possess a firearm towhich an application relates. Youmayberequiredtoprovideadditionalinformationordocumentationtosupportyourapplication.

ACQUISITION OF FIREARMS

Youmust be authorised by a permit to acquire a firearm. You cannotsupply a firearm to another person who is not authorised to acquirethe firearm by an approved permit, but defences now exist regardingacquisitionandsupplythroughanoralloanagreement(foramaximumof10days)orwrittenloanagreement(foramaximumof28days)betweenyouandanother licensee if the termsofagreementarecompliedwith.Refersection22(5)oftheActandregulation52oftheRegulations.

Prescribed process for acquisition of a firearmInordertolawfullyacquireafirearmyoumustsubmitanapplicationfora permit to acquire it. A PD306 form (which is avaliable on SAPOL’swebsite)mustbecompletedandapprovedpriortoyoutakingpossessionofthefirearm.YoumaysubmittheformatapolicestationorbyposttoTheRegistrar,FirearmsBranch,GPOBox1539,ADELAIDESA5001.

Ifyourapplicationisforafirearm,otherthanacategoryA,youmustsetoutyourgenuineneedtoacquirethefirearmwhichcannotbemetbyafirearmalreadyinyourpossession.Ifyoucan’tdemonstratesuchgenuineneedforthatfirearm,yourapplicationwillberefused.

IfyourapplicationisapprovedbytheRegistrar,theendorsedPD306willbereturnedtoyoutoenableyoutoacquirethefirearm.Thetransferofpossessiontoyoumustbedonethroughtheagencyofalicenseddealer,orbewitnessedbyaprescribedperson,whomustsightyourlicenceandtheapprovedpermitandthencompletethe‘WitnesstoTransfer’sectionofthepermit.

The following is a synopsis of information you must know concerningthe operation and effect of the legislation including key areas such ascategoriesoffirearmsandfirearmslicences,howtoacquireandregisterfirearmsandnewstorageandsecurityrequirements.

CATEGORIES OF FIREARM

Deactivated firearms: the status of deactivated firearms remainsunchanged – they are those which have been examined by thePolice Armoury Section and certified by the Registrar of Firearms(Registrar). Although they must now be registered to a licensedowner, theyarenotsubject tothesamesecurityrequirementsasotherfirearms and licence applications will be fee free if made in the first 12monthsfrom1July2017.

Antique firearms remain exempt from the requirements of the Act ifmanufactured prior to 1900; and are kept solely for curiosity, display,ornamentalorinvestmentpurposes;arenotusedtofireprojectiles;and:

• inthecaseofafirearmotherthanacategoryHfirearm–isdesigned tofirebreechloadingcartridges,andisafirearmtheammunitionfor whichisnotordinarilyavailableforpurchasebyretailinAustralia;or isnotdesignedtofirebreechloadingcartridges;or

• inthecaseofcategoryHfirearms–isahandgundesignedoraltered tofirebymeansofaflintlock,matchlock,wheel-lockorothersystem usedpriortotheuseofpercussioncapsasameansofignition.

AAirguns;paint-ballfirearms;rimfirerifles(notbeingself-loading);shotguns (not being self-loading or pumpaction); break actioncombinationshotgunandrimfirerifles.

B

Muzzle loading firearms (not being handguns); revolvingchamberrifles;centrefirerifles(notbeingself-loading);multiplebarrel centre fire rifles (not designed to hold additional roundsinamagazine);breakactioncombinationshotgunsandcentrefire rifles; all other firearms (except prescribed, handguns, self-loading firearms or pump action shotguns) that are notcategoryAfirearms.

CSelf-loading rim fire rifles having a magazine capacity of 10roundsorless;self-loadingorpumpactionshotgunshavingamagazinecapacityof5roundsorless.

D

Self-loading rim fire rifleshavingamagazine capacity ofmorethan 10 rounds; self-loading centre fire rifles; self-loading orpumpactionshotgunshavingamagazinecapacityofmorethan5rounds.

H Handguns(notbeingprescribedfirearms).

P Prescribedfirearms,includingautomaticfirearms,aredefinedinsection5oftheActandregulation7oftheRegulations.

Level1safe minimumof2mmthicksteelsidesanddoor

Level2safe minimumof3mmthicksteelsidesanddoor

Strongroom

floor, ceiling and walls constructed of reinforcedconcrete/besserblocksordoublebricktominimumthicknessof140mm.Doormadeofsteel(10mmsolidsheetstructuralgrademildsteelor3mmthicksolidsheet cut resistant steel with chemical compositionof minimum 12% manganese and encased within,or reinforced by, solid sheet timber of minimum of 40mmthick)

Safesandstrongroomsarerequiredtobebuilttominimumspecifications(e.g. certain locks and hinges required) or in some other manner approved by the Registrar – for further information refer to clauses 2 and 11, Schedule 1 of the Firearms Regulations or the FirearmssectiononSAPOL’swebsite.