Firearms Amendment Regulations 2017

Firearms Amendment Regulations 2017

I, the Lieutenant-Governor in and over the State of Tasmania and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, make the following regulations under the Firearms Act 1996 .

7 August 2017

A. M. BLOW

Lieutenant-Governor

By His Excellency's Command,

M. T. (RENE) HIDDING

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management

1.   Short title

These regulations may be cited as the Firearms Amendment Regulations 2017 .

2.   Commencement

These regulations take effect on 4 December 2017.

3.   Principal Regulations

In these regulations, the Firearms Regulations 2016 are referred to as the Principal Regulations.

4.    Regulations 9A , 9B and 9C inserted

After regulation 9 of the Principal Regulations , the following regulations are inserted:

9A.   Storage of firearms and firearm parts by licence holders

The holder of a firearms licence must ensure that any firearm or firearm part that is not being used, maintained or conveyed is stored in a receptacle that –

(a) is locked; and

(b) is not easily penetrable; and

(c) is –

(i) made of concrete; or

(ii) in the case of the storage of a Category A or Category B firearm, or any firearm part for such a firearm, made of metal that is at least 2mm thick; or

(iii) in the case of the storage of a Category C, Category D or Category H firearm, or any firearm part for such a firearm, made of metal that is at least 3mm thick; and

(d) has an internal locking mechanism; and

(e) has –

(i) an internal hinging mechanism; or

(ii) a mechanism which would prevent the door of the receptacle from opening when the door is locked and the hinges are removed; and

(f) in the case of a receptacle that weighs less than 150kg when empty, is fixed by means of internal masonry fixing bolts or coach screws –

(i) in a manner that prevents easy removal; and

(ii) at least –

(A) twice to a wall and at least twice to the floor; or

(B) 4 times to a wall or the floor.

9B.   Storage of ammunition by licence holders

The holder of a firearms licence must ensure that ammunition that is not being used or conveyed is stored –

(a) in a receptacle that –

(i) is locked; and

(ii) is separate from, or comprises a separate compartment of, any receptacle in which a firearm is stored; and

(iii) cannot be opened by the same key as a receptacle in which a firearm is stored; or

(b) in a manner approved by the Commissioner.

9C.   Additional storage requirements for 10 or more firearms and Category H firearms

(1)  Where a Category H firearm or 10 or more firearms of any category are stored in one or more receptacles at any premises, the premises must be equipped with an electronic security device.

(2)  The electronic security device must be –

(a) designed to prevent, detect or deter unauthorised entry to the premises or any of the receptacles; and

(b) capable of detecting any such entry; and

(c) maintained in proper working order.

(3)  The electronic security device must be an alarm or a visual recording device.

(4)  If the electronic security device is an alarm, it must be audible or monitored at all times.

(5)  If the electronic security device is a visual recording device, it must –

(a) record to a separate storage device any activity in the vicinity of any of the receptacles; and

(b) provide images of a sufficient quality to identify people recorded.

(6)  The storage device must not be located in the immediate vicinity of any of the receptacles.

Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.

Notified in the Gazette on 16 August 2017

These regulations are administered in the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the regulation)

These regulations amend the Firearms Regulations 2016 by prescribing storage requirements for firearms, firearm parts and ammunition.