New South Wales Repealed Regulations

This legislation has been repealed.

FIREARMS (GENERAL) REGULATION 1997 - REG 31

31 Firearms collections

(1) In accordance with section 8 (3) of the Act, the only type of licence which authorises a person to possess a firearm in respect of which the genuine reason of firearms collection has been established is a firearms collector licence.

(2) Without limiting the conditions to which a firearms collector licence may be subject, any such licence is subject to the condition that the licensee must, as a current member of an approved collectors’ society or collectors’ club, comply with clause 81 (1) (d).

(3) In accordance with section 20 (a) of the Act, a firearms collector licence is subject to the condition that any prohibited firearm (being a rifle to which a category D licence applies) that is part of the collection must be rendered permanently incapable of being fired in the following manner:

(a) a bore diameter mild steel rod must be inserted into the barrel of the firearm extending for the full length of the barrel,

(b) the steel rod must be fully welded to:

(i) the muzzle and finished flush, and

(ii) the chamber of the firearm (if applicable),

(c) the barrel must be welded to the receiver to prevent the barrel from being removed,

(d) the firing pin must be removed and the firing pin hole welded closed,

(e) any internal springs or components that can be removed without detracting from the external appearance of the firearm must be removed,

(f) any trigger of the firearm must be welded in a fixed position to prevent the trigger from working,

(g) the internal components of the firearm must (if possible) be welded to prevent the firearm from working,

(h) any bolts and external hammers must be welded in a fixed position,

(i) any other mechanism or action in respect of the firearm must be welded in a closed position to prevent the firearm from working.

(4) In accordance with section 20 (a) of the Act, a firearms collector licence is subject to the condition that any prohibited firearm (being a shotgun to which a category D licence applies) that is part of the collection must be rendered permanently incapable of being fired in the following manner:

(a) a bore diameter mild steel rod must be inserted into the barrel of the firearm for a distance of 5 cm,

(b) the steel rod must be welded flush to the muzzle,

(c) a 5 cm long steel plug must be inserted into the chamber and fully welded flush,

(d) the barrel must be welded to the receiver to prevent the barrel from being removed.

(4A) Despite subclauses (3) and (4), any such prohibited firearm may be rendered permanently incapable of being fired by being sectionalised (that is, by milling away the external parts of the firearm to expose its internal mechanisms) in an approved manner.

(5) For the purposes of subclauses (3) and (4), and in addition to the requirements of those subclauses:

(a) any welding required to be done must:

(i) be substantial and, wherever practicable, not be done by way of spot welding, and

(ii) be done by way of gas metal arc, gas tungsten arc, manual arc electrode or gas fusion with steel wire, and

(b) if a firearm has a component of a non-ferrous composition which cannot be satisfactorily welded but is required to be welded, that component may be glued and pinned to prevent it from working, and

(c) the barrel of a firearm that is constructed of material unsuitable for welding may be plugged with a mild steel rod and welded by gas brazing or a similar method, and

(d) any nipple of a firearm must be welded so that it is blocked.

(6) For the purposes of section 20 (e) of the Act, the following standards are prescribed for the storage of firearms in a firearms collection:

(a) any ammunition for any firearm (whether or not forming part of the collection) must not be kept in the area or room in which the firearms are stored,

(b) the area or room in which the firearms are stored must be part of a permanent building with secure locks on all entrances,

(c) the area or room must have solid walls that provide a substantial barrier to forced entry,

(d) any window in the area or room must be covered by a security screen,

(e) doors leading into the area or room must be made of solid material or be reinforced by steel,

(f) each such door must be fitted with a “dead latch” type lock, or be fitted with a hasp/barrel bolt and padlock,

(g) door hinges must be concealed or the hinge pins must be welded to prevent them from being punched out,

(h) if the firearms are to be displayed outside of their locked containers at any time, the licence holder must be physically present in the area or room at that time.

(7) The standards set out in subclause (6) are in addition to the requirements of Part 4 of the Act.