I've had quite a few comments lately asking about Australian Gun Laws and the generalisation that guns are illegal to own by Australians. Guns are legal to own however there are strict laws concerning this. Rifles and Shotguns are easiest to obtain. Handguns are a bit more difficult. Semi-automatic Rifles are the hardest to obtain. Despite all our increased laws and numerous Government Buy-backs, there are more Guns in Australia then there ever was.

Owning a Handgun can be divided into two categories. Cat H "Target Shooter" and Cat G "Collector". Most Collectors are also Target Shooters.

S&W_Aussie discussed these laws a few years ago. With his permission, I'll quote what he wrote to address this topic.

"A couple of people have asked me about collecting in Australia. Many people have heard that all handguns are banned here and its almost impossible to own any firearm.

The truth is apart from a few administrative differences all Australian states follow the same basic laws. Below are the laws in my state of Queensland.

* You have to get a police check if you do not already have a longarms license.

* You take the police letter saying you are a "Fit and Proper Person. to a pistol club.

* To get a handgun license you have to be a member of an approved pistol club.

*You have to do a minimum number of competition shoots a year (6 minimum)

* You have to do a 6 month probationary period in the club before you can be licensed and do 3 comp shoots in this period.

* You can only shoot calibres up to .38 unless you have a special endorsement on your license.

* You can only get the endorsement if you shoot competitions that require lager calibres (Metalic Silhouette, Cowboy Action, etc)

* You can only own 1 c-fire or rimfire handgun in your first year of licenensing plus an airgun.

* You have to complete a handgun safety course (1 day)


That's what you need to do to get your FIRST handgun. The process takes a minimum of 6 months, plus the time it takes to get your police check. Then there is a mandatory 28 day wait before your license application is processed. Then it can take a few weeks to get your actual license in the mail.

Once you have your license you an go get your first handgun. Some clubs insist you start with a .22 and work your way up but its not law.

To get a handgun onto your license you have to:

* Find the gun.

* You need a letter/form from your club that it is an appropriate firearm for a competition held by the club.

* You need to fill out a 4 page application for what is called the " Permit to Acquire" which asks you to give a genuine reason for needing the gun and all the particulars of the gun and the disposer /seller.

* You submit the PTA form, letter from your club and pay the $31.10 fee to the local Police station.

* For your first gun there is another 28 day mandatory wait before they will process your application.

* It can take up to 3 months to get the application through although I just had one come through in 10 days!

Under our laws you can not own certain handguns unless you have a security license or a collectors or dealers license. These rules are:

* Revolvers with barrels shorter than 4" (100mm)
* Semi autos with barrels shorter than 5" (120mm)
* Handguns (other than BP muzzle loaders or cap and ball) with calibres larger than .38.
* Any handgun with a magazine capacity of more than 10 shots.

I also have a "Collectors License". There are 2 types - pre1947 and post 1947. I have both.To get this license you have to go through the same initial process (safety course, club etc). But also the following:

* You have to be a member of a registered historical society or assn. (Like the SWCA)

* You have to give a detailed explanation in writing of the "theme" you will be collecting to. My "Themes" are "S&W handguns and Colt handguns" & "MIlitary and service revolvers and pistols" ...pretty broad themes but it keeps the authorities happy.

* If you try and collect a gun that does not fir your "theme" your PTA may be rejected.

* For pre1947 handguns you need to submit in writing an explanation of why the gun is collectable and how it fits your theme.

* For post 1947 handguns you have to do the same but also have a letter from you club saying that they agree the gun fits your theme.

* ANY gun on your collectors license needs to be kep "temporarily inoperative" ie must have a trigger lock as a minimum at all times.

You are not allowed to shoot ANY gun on your collectors license apart from approved shoots organised by the collectors assn (currently only held twice a year)

To get my post 1947 license took me 3 years. I had to go through all the processes I just laid out but it was worth it.

The laws here are restrictive but if you are a serious collector you will jump through the hoops. I think it was worthwhile as I have now built a nice little collection." S&W_Aussie

I'm in the state of New South Wales. Our laws are pretty much similar to Queensland.

OMG what a list of nit picking arbitrary hoops to have to jump thru in order to own a gun and prove it is not for the most important use. completely the opposite of the spirit of our second amendment. thank God i was born a citizen and not a subject.

Probably half my guns were bought from an induvial at some random parking lot. Check it out, hand over the cash and drive home.

Sold and traded a bunch like that too.

What does one have to do if they are only interested in muzzle loading rifles?

Very informative! Thanks for posting.

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Rule of law, not a man.

That’s crazy.
I never take for granted the freedom to be able go to the store or find a gun online and buy it, any kind I want and as many as I want, full auto notwithstanding. In Nevada, if you have a ccw, there is no background required, even from an FFL. Complete the 4473, pay and leave.

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213th FBINA

If I find a gun I want and it a private sale I just buy it, I saw 5 or 6 at local garage sales last weekend. If in a gun shop, buy it and fill out a couple pages of a form after the dealer checks my concealed weapons permit and fills in his blanks on a form. Hand over the money and walk out the door with my gun. My permit took 4 days, $50 a clean record and a photo to get from the local sheriff's office. Without the permit, the dealer would have use my drivers permit to make a 10 minute telephone call; to check me out. I can have 1 gun or 10,000. From 50 caliber to 17 caliber. Handgun, rifles, shotguns, 2nd Amendment freedom

Given the draconian regulation and registration of firearms, I'm guessing the gov't has a pretty good idea of how many firearms are in private hands. Any idea what that number is? As a percentage, or total, or whatever?

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Totally absurd, I'd move!

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Where? California???

I note that there is nothing regarding self defense-it is all about sporting use which explains how important the 2d Amendment is

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Forum consigliere

For Filipinos getting a ccw and buying firearms in the Philippines is pretty straightforward. Anyone with a clean record can carry. However, the guns are registered, renewal fees due every 5 years, IIRC

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213th FBINA

A buddy once came over showing me the fantastical shotgun he bought out of a trunk at his brother's gas station. I told him he was *****. At my insistence he called up his other brother (the cop) who ran the SN for him (off the record so as to not get him in trouble).

My buddy came back all upset because the gun had been reported stolen earlier that week. I said to him WELL DUH WHAT DID YOU EXPECT???

A gun on a table at an estate sale most probably is legally owned by the homeowner. A $1000 Browning for 100 bucks in the trunk of a black Cadillac probably ain't such a good idea.

Not so easy...in Moo Moo’s case, he would have have to emigrate to another country. We take for granted that if we don’t like the laws that came to our state, we can just up and move to a state with more friendly gun laws.

Muss is right, those laws are Draconian. I would not want to be Subjected to them. Pun intended

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

Factoid: Australians are no longer subjects of the Crown. They are Australian citizens.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Common sense is a good thing to have as a gun owner.

It's the mindset and the way they look at authority. I noticed
he didn't think doing all the paperwork or waiting 3 years was
anything to worry about.
And all this private gun club thing is probably just to keep the
lower class and the native population from owning firearms.

They are more like Australian subjects. They had an opportunity to become a republic, but chose to maintain essentially the same system as they had under the British Crown.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Ditto in Mississippi - if you have the state issued firearm permit, you show it, fill out the 4473, pay, and leave with the firearm. I assume this is true for many other states besides Nevada and Mississippi.

Over the years I have had the good fortune to associate with quite a few Australians, and I have visited there (R&R from Vietnam). My observations have been that Australians are generally very decent and welcoming people, proud of their nation and heritage, and fiercely independent.

As with any population group in the world, I'm sure there are exceptions. But I believe that the above generalizations will stand scrutiny.

What Australians do not have (nor do Canadians and other current and former Commonwealth nations) is a constitution guaranteeing specific individual liberties and rights. This has resulted in a more general acceptance of government actions, even those restricting some persons or groups for the perceived benefit of the many (my opinion, of course).

As we see with our bicameral congress and patchwork of state governments, most legislation results from compromise, and there are many instances of acceptance of some restrictions rather than losing completely (i.e.: club requirements, licensing, permits, etc).

I sincerely doubt that the Australian government would have any more hope of easily imposing total gun bans or confiscation than our own government would have. Many Australians would simply refuse.

As the OP pointed out, despite the current restrictions Australians now have more firearms in private hands than ever before.

true, but they waited to long to cut the apron strings.

Maybe someday they can evolve to become East Canada. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

Well I bought a gun last night at Dicks and made the guy go get me a new one out the back that had not been cooned by everybody and his brother and by the time I checked out and paid for the gun, to my horror it had taken almost 20 minutes Probably because it was around 21:00 hours.

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Forum consigliere

Use face powder?

Yes. Unless it's an antique.

Australian gun laws

Many years ago, here in the USA, I was, severely, reprimanded by an Australian.

That Australian was a welcomed guest, of the USA.

That Australian, openly, and loudly berated me, in front of my friends, and fellow Us citizens, on our beliefs, on gun ownership, self-protection, and our Second Amendment rights.

He proclaimed, US citizens to be the most blood thirsty people on earth.

That behavior, took a tremendous amount of hatred, gall, and ignorance. His actions helped form, my candid opinion of Australians, and their standards.

I may have formed the wrong opinion, but be that as it may, I’d prefer that anti gun, Australians stayed in Australia, and stew in their own juices.

Ironically, I had the same thing happen to me. But, it just so happens that this dude was a 6th generation Bostonian.

Ya, you don't have to talk to an Assie to get our gun laws bad mouthed. Plenty of US citizens willing to do that. Most of the Australians I have met have been great people if hard to understand. They speak funny and my hearing sucks. I believe their gun laws suck, but then I believe California, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, New York and some other states have some horrible gun laws too. Hardly means that there are not some good people stuck in those places. Take Washington, a place I am well acquainted with for example, most of the people I know from there are hunting, fishing gun loving people. But the masses in Seattle and Tacoma overwhelm them with stupid laws.

Population of Australia is currently 25,704,340, but you formed your opinion of Australians on one of them?

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

About 3.5 million registered Guns. Might not seem very much but the Australian Population is only 25 million people.

Offered only for perspective, not to provoke argument:

US population currently estimated at about 332,000,000.

Firearms privately owned in the US currently estimated at 390,000,000.

Ratios of firearms ownership to population: Australia 1-in-7, US about 1.2 per person.

Interesting? I suppose that depends on one's perspective.

And some are “gun owners”, unfortunately.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

3.5 million per 25 million isn't many at all

Here are approx 340 million people in the US and an estimated 400 million guns (probably low in my opinion) and almost none of them are registered. Only 7 states require any kind of gun registration (most of those only require handguns and a few "assault" rifles" the Federal government is prohibited from keeping a registry. If you buy a gun at a dealers store he must record the sale, but records stay at the store in paper forms and are not turned in unless store closes.

Glad to hear that you have permission to possess firearms. Now please answer the other question on our minds, are you allowed out of your houses yet?

I loved my one trip to Australia. We took some B-52s there from Guam. No nukes on the Buffs and no guns for us. The RAAF guys had no guns, either, but they did have giant German Shepherds.

It was in Darwin. I almost got punched out by a cabbie when I tried to tip him, I only saw dead kangaroos, and I got pulled over for DUI. I wasn’t drinking, I just couldn’t drive right on their preferred side of the road. Every time I used the turn signals the windshield wipers would go on. The cop (wearing an empty revolver holster) was really nice. I think had I managed to pull over on the correct side of the road he would have invited me over for a barbecue and some Fosters.

We’ve got it good over here, mate. Lots of folks passed on getting government surplus 1911s because 20 minutes of paperwork and a wait was just too onerous. “I ain’t jumping through no hoops!”

I’m glad you’re still able to be able shoot and own guns, even under those restrictions.

Long live Australia!

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Rule of law, not a man.

What if an Australian met the wrong American?

You need to re-evaluate your evaluation process . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Can you legally use a gun for self-defense?

Why did you put up with it?
How many times did we bail out the British Empire in the first half of the 20’th century?

That lecture would have had a pretty dramatic ending in about 20 seconds with me.

Citizen vs Subject.
This is where the current administration and the rest of their ilk would have us if we let them. Stand up for the constitution and the rights it protects, be vocal, educate family and friends, support like minded candidates, get out and vote in every election. Preserving our rights and liberties starts at home.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Lee, it's possible that the Aussies threw that one out of the country because they couldn't stand his mouth either......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Technically Yes if someone broke into your house. However Self Defence is not a legitimate reason to own a gun and there is no Concealed Carry Laws here at all. Does that make sense? No, you can't get a firearms licence and own a gun for self defence. However, me owning a gun as a Target Shooter, gets my house broken into and threatened for my life, may well use that Target Pistol in Self Defence.

Can the guns be kept at home? Transported in a vehicle?
Are you permitted to reload ammo at home? Only shoot at the club range? Shotgun carried in the cab of your Land Cruiser?

73,
Rick

Many would like to see those rules and more here, we must keep fighting tyranny every day.

Also a point to remember is we don't have any real lethal animals in our forests. No bears, cougars, wolves, etc. They only thing that's a killer would be a Crocodile or a Shark.

Thanks Moo Moo, for the insight into the way things are for you down under. The interesting parts of us all are in the ways we differ. Have enjoyed meeting Aussies and hope to visit there someday, just concerned doing so without subtitles.

Honestly didn't think Australians couldn't own guns. Obviously I'm happy to be wrong.

Makes me cherish our second amendment even more after reading thru this thread.

Criticism.

I certainly appreciate the criticism, and censure, that you folks freely, and generously, gave to me.

In my defense, Who would you expect me to judge, but that over enthused, belligerent, hateful, verbal, Australian?

He was invited, as a welcome, guest of the US, my son, our friends, and I.

He was treated by all of us, with all due honor, and respect.

Had I decided, to accost him, it would have only furthered, and substantiated his bad opinion and description of us, as odious Yankees.

It was a no-win situation, not of my choosing. I handled the situation, the best way, that I saw fit.

Consequently, that deplorable situation, left a lasting, bad impression on me, also a bad opinion, that I'm not likely to forget.

Some of you folks recommended, violent physical retaliation, some recommended love, and understanding.

It would be interesting for me to see, how each of you folks, would have reacted to that, situation.

Enough said, I don't wish to worsen the situation.

Ugh.........sorry to hear OP.

Apologies

I totally, regret the hullabaloo that I’ve stirred up. Both concerning our Australian friends, and my fellow Americans.
It’s proof positive, that for whatever reason, one can be easily goaded into, making a fool of one’s self.
I sincerely apologize to my fellow Americans, and to all of our Australian, friends for my actions.
I’d like to thank Moo Moo for enlightening us about Australian gun laws.
Hopefully this regrettable situation helps me to be more tolerant, and less foolish.

After reading the OP my head hurts.

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Only a cold warrior

As above, I would not equate that behavior with Australians or any nationality. Many urbanites in "developed countries" think that civilization has permanently progressed beyond the need for guns and believe that the police are there and eager and duty bound to die if necessary as their personal bodyguards. They apparently believe that George Washington won a big Scrabble game and Santa Anna lost a ballet competition?