community, Firearms and Weapons Legislation Amendment Bill, gun, NSW parliament, troy grant, lever-action shotgun

The Firearms and Weapons Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 has passed the NSW Parliament. Minister for Police Troy Grant said the reforms protect the community and ensure effective regulation of firearms in NSW. “These changes will strengthen our already robust firearms regime, while also providing further clarity for firearms licencees,” Mr Grant said. The reforms make the legislative amendments needed to implement the recent changes to the National Firearms Agreement. The amendment will see lever-action shotguns with a magazine capacity of five rounds or under categorised as Category B, and those over five rounds as Category D. Those currently with a Category A licence who own a lever-action shotgun may be issued with a Special Category B licence, at no cost, if they do not already have a Category B or Category D licence. The changes will not come into affect until November 1, 2017. The Bill also includes provisions for NSW to participate in the National Firearms Amnesty, which will run from July 1, 2017 until September 30, 2017. Mr Grant said the amnesty provided the opportunity for individuals to have an unregistered firearm registered or destroyed without penalty. “We want to ensure people operate within the strict parameters of the firearms regime, and not outside of it,” Mr Grant said. “An individual will be eligible to keep their newly registered firearm if they are appropriately licensed or able to obtain a licence. “Under no circumstances should loaded firearms be taken into a public place, including a police station or licensed firearms dealer.” Information about the amnesty requirements, including how and where to surrender firearms, can be obtained from www.firearmsamnesty.ag.gov.au or by calling 1800 909 826.

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