Handgun Legislation Information

Introduction

Since 1 July 2003 restrictions on access to concealable handguns in Queensland have been operating. The restrictions affect sporting target shooters, collectors and dealers. The legislation does not disadvantage sporting shooters who compete in Olympic or Commonwealth Games accredited events. The laws also do not apply to primary producers and people who have a handgun for occupational purposes such as security officers.

In summary, legislation:

• Bans high calibre handguns (above .38" or 9mm) for sporting shooters except for accredited events;
• Bans short-barrelled handguns (under 12 cm for semi automatics and under 10 cm for a revolver or single shot handgun) for sporting shooters;
• Bans high capacity magazines for sporting shooters;
• Prohibits possession of magazines without a license;
• Requires sporting shooters to participate in a minimum number of competitions per year;
• Requires clubs and new shooters to operate under a new scheme of membership and graduated access to firearms;
• Requires the registration of Antique handguns;
• Requires Historical Societies to become approved;
• Requires collectors of temporarily inoperable handguns to be members of approved Historical Societies and demonstrate the firearms are of obvious and significant commemorative, historic, thematic or investment value;
• Requires collectors of modern collectable temporarily inoperable handguns to demonstrate they have a prolonged and genuine interest in the study, preservation or collection of firearms and have their licence endorsed to allow possession and demonstrate the firearms are of obvious and significant commemorative, historic, thematic or investment value;