FIREARMS ACT 1996 - SECT 8 Licence categories and authority conferred by licence

FIREARMS ACT 1996 - SECT 8

8 Licence categories and authority conferred by licence

(cf 1989 Act s 21, APMC 1, 3, 4)

(1) The categories of licences, the firearms to which they apply, and the authority they confer, are as follows--

Firearms to which the licence applies:

• air rifles

• rimfire rifles (other than self-loading)

• shotguns (other than pump action, lever action or self-loading)

• shotgun/rimfire rifle combinations.

All prohibited firearms are excluded from this licence category.

Authority conferred by the licence:

The licensee is authorised to possess or use a registered firearm of the kind to which the licence applies, but only for the purpose established by the licensee as being the genuine reason for possessing or using the firearm.

Firearms to which the licence applies:

• muzzle-loading firearms (other than pistols)

• centre-fire rifles (other than self-loading)

• shotgun/centre-fire rifle combinations

• lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of no more than 5 rounds.

All prohibited firearms are excluded from this licence category.

Authority conferred by the licence:

The licensee is authorised to possess or use a registered firearm of the kind to which the licence applies, but only for the purpose established by the licensee as being the genuine reason for possessing or using the firearm.

Firearms to which the licence applies:

• self-loading rimfire rifles with a magazine capacity of no more than 10 rounds

• self-loading shotguns with a magazine capacity of no more than 5 rounds

• pump action shotguns with a magazine capacity of no more than 5 rounds.

Any firearm referred to in item 6, 10 or 11 of Schedule 1 is excluded from this licence category. The regulations may prescribe certain other firearms (whether being of a general class or whether described specifically) that are excluded from this licence category.

Authority conferred by the licence:

Authorises the licensee (and any employee of the licensee who is eligible to be issued with a licence and who is authorised by the Commissioner in writing, but only while carrying out duties in connection with the licensee's farming or grazing activities) to possess or use--

(a) no more than one registered self-loading rimfire rifle with a magazine capacity of no more than 10 rounds that is specified in the licence, and

(b) no more than one registered shotgun to which the licence applies that is specified in the licence,

but only for the purpose established by the licensee as being the genuine reason for possessing or using the firearm and only on land used for primary production that is owned or occupied by the licensee or that immediately adjoins that land (provided the licensee has the written permission of the owner or occupier of that adjoining primary production land to possess or use the firearm on that land).

However, the number of firearms authorised under this licence category may be increased if a special need for more than one such rifle, or for more than one such shotgun, is established by the licensee to the satisfaction of the Commissioner (for example because of the size of the rural property concerned, or because the licensee is involved with more than one rural property).

Firearms to which the licence applies:

• self-loading centre-fire rifles

• self-loading rimfire rifles with a magazine capacity of more than 10 rounds

• self-loading shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds

• pump action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds

• lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds

• any firearm to which a category C licence applies.

Any firearm referred to in item 5, 6, 9 or 10 of Schedule 1 is excluded from this licence category. The regulations may prescribe certain other firearms (whether being of a general class or whether described specifically) that are excluded from this licence category.

Authority conferred by the licence:

The licensee is authorised to possess or use a registered firearm to which the licence applies, but only for the purpose established by the licensee as being the genuine reason for possessing or using the firearm.

However, in the case of a licensee who is a person referred to in paragraph (c) of the genuine reason of vertebrate pest animal control, the authority conferred by the licence is restricted as follows--

(a) the licensee is authorised to possess or use no more than 3 registered firearms to which the licence applies,

(b) the licensee is authorised to use a firearm to which the licence applies only on the rural property specified in the licence.

Firearms to which the licence applies:

• pistols (including blank fire pistols and air pistols).

Prohibited firearms are excluded from this licence category.

Authority conferred by the licence:

The licensee is authorised to possess or use a registered pistol, but only for the purpose established by the licensee as being the genuine reason for having the licence.

In the case of a category H (sport/target shooting) licence, the licensee is authorised to possess or use a registered pistol only for the purposes of participating in competitive shooting activities that are approved by the Commissioner.

A category H (sport/target shooting) licence does not authorise the possession or use of a prohibited pistol.

Despite the provisions referred to above in relation to this licence category, a category H licence authorises the possession or use of an antique revolver within the meaning of section 6A. However, a category H (sport/target shooting) licence does not authorise the possession or use of any such antique revolver that is a prohibited pistol.

Firearms to which the licence applies:

• the kinds of firearms specified in the licence.

Authority conferred by the licence:

In the case of a firearms dealer other than a club armourer or a theatrical armourer, authorises the licensee and (subject to the conditions of the licence and the regulations)--

(a) employees or directors of the corporation specified in the licence, or

(b) employees of the partnership so specified, or

(c) employees of the individual so specified,

who are eligible to be issued with a licence and who are authorised in writing by the Commissioner, to possess, manufacture, convert, acquire, supply, repair, maintain or test, in the course of carrying on the business of a firearms dealer, and only at the premises specified in the licence, any firearm to which the licence applies, and to possess, manufacture, acquire or supply ammunition for those firearms.

In the case of a club armourer, authorises the licensee to possess, manufacture, convert, acquire, supply, repair, maintain or test in the licensee's capacity as a club armourer, and only at the premises specified in the licence, the firearms to which the licence applies, and to possess, manufacture, acquire or supply ammunition for those firearms.

The authority conferred by a firearms dealer licence issued to a club armourer is restricted to carrying out the person's duties as club armourer for the club concerned.

In the case of a theatrical armourer, authorises the licensee to possess, use, manufacture, convert, acquire, supply, repair, maintain or test firearms (and blank cartridges for those firearms) in the licensee's capacity as a theatrical armourer.

The authority conferred by a firearms dealer licence issued to a theatrical armourer extends to any employee of the licensee who is authorised in writing by the Commissioner.

Firearms to which the licence applies:

• the kinds of firearms specified in the licence.

Except as otherwise provided by this Act, post-1946 pistols are excluded from this licence category.

Any prohibited firearm (other than those firearms to which a category C licence or category D licence applies) is excluded from this licence category.

Authority conferred by the licence:

The licensee is authorised to possess the firearms to which the licence applies for the purpose of a firearms collection.

(2) The regulations may prescribe sub-categories in respect of category H licences and firearms dealer licences, and specify the authority conferred by each such sub-category.

(3) The authority conferred by a licence is subject to this Act and the regulations.