A STATE election candidate from the northern suburbs is facing court on a gun charge and plans to sue the State Government for up to $100,000 over what he claims was a false arrest.

Independent Legislative Council candidate Mark Aldridge — son of Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge — will face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court next month to defend one count of breaching the conditions of his gun licence.

Court documents do not reveal details of the alleged breach and police have refused to comment on the case.

Mr Aldridge, an advocate for responsible gun ownership, insisted he was not guilty of breaching his licence.

He said his legal team was expected to lodge a civil claim in court this week, seeking up to $100,000 in damages.

“I’m suing the State Government because they’ve made mistakes and rather than own up to them, they then used intimidation tactics to have me back off and I think that’s a bit unfair,” Mr Aldridge told the Advertiser.

“It brings some accountability to them.”

Police searched Mr Aldridge’s Penfield Gardens properly on May 17 last year to check that his firearms were stored correctly.

Mr Aldridge said police took away five guns, including rifles and a pistol.

He said that three months later, police returned to his property and arrested him, holding him in police lock-up for several hours, before releasing him without charge.

The arrest came less than three weeks before the federal election, in which Mr Aldridge was running as an independent candidate for the seat of Wakefield.

He was eventually charged under Section 21 of the Firearms Act in November.

If found guilty, Mr Aldridge faces a maximum $10,000 fine or two years’ jail.

Mr Aldridge said he did not believe the gun charge and the civil case would have an impact on his bid to enter state politics.

“This just shows that I’m willing to stand up for something that I think is correct,” he said.

“I think it’s very important that all of us stand up when we think we are innocent and try and prove that point, rather than just pay fines or cop these sorts of issues.”

Mr Aldridge’s states on his campaign website that is an “experienced sporting shooter” and he promotes “responsible firearms policy”.

He also lobbies for farming reforms and set up the Farm Direct farmers markets in Parafield and Evanston.

Mr Aldridge is also a civil rights, animal welfare and small business advocate.