1910 .30 Luger

[raygun]

Originally Posted by alanint

I was under the impression that Australia had initiated a total gun ban. Are there special conditions for collectors and collector's guns?

Doug , just briefly , the only things effectively banned here are semi auto rifles and machine guns . we can have them on a collectors license only if deactivated . However dealers, armourers or theatrical ordinance suppliers can have them largely intact.

All firearms even air rifles have to be registered , an everyone who wants to own a firearm has to have a license.

The most common license is a simple long arms license for which you have to do a safety course and join a shooting club or have written permission from a property owner to hunt and shoot on that property [ farm or ranch]. there is very little shooting allowed on Crown [government controlled] land.

For this license you can own a bolt action, lever action or pump action .22 rimfire repeater or centrefire up to 8mm calibre, and a lever action or double barrel shotgun.

Pump action shotguns up to 5 rounds, semi auto .22 rifles up to 10 rounds are in a higher cattegory and difficult to get unless you are a farmer or primary producer, involved in feral pest destruction or have an instructors license.

It is also possible to get a semi auto centrefire rifle license which has to be renewed every 12 months if as a primary producer you can prove a need . Instructors can have them for instructional purposes only.

Handguns of most types can be owned if you are a member of a pistol club , but you must participate in at least 6 competitions a year and keep an attendance card.

There is also a collectors license and you can collect a large variety of rifles and pistols made before 1946 if you are in a collectors club. If you want to collect anything made later than that , you have to come up with a pretty good story and satisfy the "Authorised officer" of "weapons licensing branch"

On top of that you have to apply for a "permit to acquire" and give a reason for each and every individual firearm you wish to purchase !!

So you can see what i mean when i say " a lot of paperwork"

I'm sure it sounds like your worst nightmare over there !?

Despite all this , in my state alone at least a couple of hundred people do their compulsory weapons act safety course every weekend, as a prerequisite to getting their firearms license, and the police get 5 to 6 hundred applications for a permit to acquire a firearm every week. They have about a 100 staff and are always struggling to keep up with the demand.

we continue to have a stong gun lobby and are making some progress at improving things , but the main thing needed is a change in attitude in the major political parties.

The political party that introduced these laws in my state has now been out of power for 14 years ! I think they have finally got the message !!