Page 261 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 1991
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licence. Because of the relatively small geographical area of the ACT, and also because most land in the Territory is public land, little scope for hunting and recreational shooting exists. Consequently, many ACT hunters and recreational shooters shoot only outside the Territory. It is essential for such persons to be able to be licensed in the ACT in order to retain possession of their firearms.
A further complicating factor is that some State authorities, notably in New South Wales, will not license these ACT residents for shooting in that State unless they possess an ACT licence. The Bill overcomes this impasse by enabling such persons to be licensed on establishing to the Registrar's satisfaction that they recreationally shoot or hunt in another State or Territory. The Government will ensure that the Registrar, when exercising this discretion, sets a vigorous standard of inquiry, including a requirement for collateral evidence from reputable persons.
Other provisions will require a prospective licensee to satisfactorily complete a course in the safe handling of weapons, or to satisfy the Registrar that he or she has adequate skill or experience in such handling, thereby ensuring that those who do want to own and use a weapon will be sufficiently skilled to avoid any mishap causing injury to themselves or others. The Bill continues the present prohibition on fully automatic weapons and introduces a series of restrictions in respect of semiautomatic weapons.
Non-military-style semiautomatic weapons will have no specific restrictions, and may be possessed and used for participation in sporting shooting competitions and also for recreational shooting and hunting. However, military-style semiautomatic weapons may be used only for sporting shooting competition purposes. With the recent announcement by the Commonwealth Government of a prohibition on the importation of military-style weapons, there will be no further increase in the number of these weapons in circulation.
The Bill categorises weapons as dangerous, restricted or prohibited. Under the provisions of the Bill, licences may be obtained for dangerous and restricted weapons only. However, there are transitional provisions to cater for persons who, at the time of commencement of these provisions, have licences under the existing Gun Licence Act 1937 in respect of weapons, including military-style semiautomatic weapons, to enable them to comply with the new requirements.
The Government considers that we should do our utmost to reduce cupboard weaponry - that is, the possession of firearms by persons who do not have a need for a firearm and do not use their firearm. Accordingly, the Bill provides for amnesties to be declared during which unregistered firearms may be handed in without fear of prosecution.
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