How to Store your Weapon/Firearms

1)    Firearms, Collectors Licences, Miscellaneous Licence, Group Licence and Firearms Licence (Instructor) 

The following storage requirements apply to:

i) Firearms Licence (categories A, B and C) no more than 30 weapons;
ii) Collectors Licence (categories A, B, C and E) no more than 30 weapons;
iii) Miscellaneous Licence (category M);
iv) Group Licence (categories A, B, C and E)
v) Firearms Licence (Instructor) (categories A, B, C and E)

Requirements:

Firearms must be stored unloaded in a locked container with the bolt removed or the action broken. 

The container must be a rigid structure made of solid steel or solid timber and if the container weighs less than 150kg it must be securely fixed to the frame or floor of a permanent building.

2) Firearms, Concealable, Collectors Licences, Group Licence and Firearms Licence (Instructor) 

The following storage requirements apply to:

i) Firearms Licence (category D) with a total of no more than 30 weapons
ii) Concealable Licence (category H) with a total of no more than 30 weapons
iii) Collectors (categories D, H (permanently inoperable) and R) with a total of no more than 30 weapons.
iv) Group Licence (categories D & H) with a total of no more than 30 weapons
v) Firearms Licence (Instructor) (categories D & H) with a total of no more than 30 weapons

Requirements:

Firearms must be stored unloaded in a locked container with the bolt removed or the action broken.

The container must be a rigid structure made of solid steel and be bolted to the frame or floor of a permanent building.  The container must also have a sturdy combination lock, keyed lock or keyed padlock; and always be locked.

3) Firearms, Concealable, Collectors Licences, Group Licence and Firearms Licence (Instructor) 

By virtue of section 60(5) of the Regulations, the following storage requirements apply to a licensee who holds a total of more than 30 categories A, B, C and D firearms and/or more than 30 category H  firearms on the premises:

i) Firearms Licence
ii) Concealable Licence
iii) Collectors Licence
iv) Collectors (weapons) Licence (temporarily inoperable category H) regardless of number in possession
v) Group Licence
vi) Firearms Licence (Instructor)

Requirements:

Firearms must be stored unloaded in a locked container with the bolt removed or the action broken.

A weapon possession under a collector’s licence (weapons) that is not in the licensee’s physical possession must be stored unloaded in a locked container or locked gun rack, in a locked room (the storeroom) complying with this part; or a locked vault complying with this part.  This means that:

i)     if you have a vault a per section 37 of the Regulations then you do not require gun rack or containers as per section 42 and 43 of the Regulations, inside the vault;
ii)     if you have a gun rack or container as per section 42 and 43 of the Regulations, they must be inside the storeroom as per section 41 of the Regulations.

Definitions

Gun Rack - A gun rack must have sturdy metal bars, grills or chains, to secure the weapons, locked in place by a sturdy keyed lock or keyed padlock.  The gun rack must be fixed to the premises by welding or hardened steel bolts at least 10mm in diameter and no more than 10 weapons may be kept in the gun rack. Section 42 of the Weapons Regulations 1996 for further details on requirements for a gun rack.

Storeroom - must be, or be a part of, a permanent building.  Each external wall of the storeroom must be made of brick, concrete or solid timber. Section 41 of the Weapons Regulations 1996 for further details on requirements for a storeroom.

Vault - A vault must be made of concrete or concrete blocks filled with concrete.  The vault door must be made of steel and have steel door jambs, a built in deadlock or combination lock and have hinges that are welded to the door and door jamb. Section 37 of the Weapons Regulations 1996 for further details on requirements for a vault.

Container – A container in which a collection is stored must for a category D, H or R weapon be made of solid steel and be bolted to the frame or floor of the building.  For another category of weapon the container must be made of solid steel or solid timber and if it weighs less than 150kg it must be securely fixed to the frame or floor of the building.

The container must have a sturdy combination lock, keyed lock or keyed padlock and must always be locked.

4) Dealers/Armourers/Theatrical Ordnance Suppliers

Sections 30-38 of the Weapons Regulations 1996 provide the legislative requirements for the secure storage of weapons registered to your licence/s. The storage requirements for these types of licences are at a higher level than that of a firearms licence holder, due to the ability of the licensee to possess and trade in high risk and larger number of weapons.  These sections outline specific requirements for:

•  how weapons may be stored;
• floors;
• walls;
• ceiling;
• external doors;
• grills for windows and shopfront doors;
• burglar alarms;
• vaults and safes; and general requirements for gun racks.

Refer to sections 30-38 of the Weapons Regulations 1996 for further information.

Contact Weapons Licensing to arrange an inspection of premises. If establishing new premises or prior to modifying existing premises, it is recommended that contact is made with Weapons Licensing PRIOR TO commencement of construction or purchase, to ensure the premises are compliant with the relevant sections of the Weapons Regulations 1996.

There are numerous requirements for Dealers/Armourers licence, please contact Weapons Licensing PRIOR TO making an application for a licence.

5) Security Organisations

Section 50 of the Weapons Regulations 1996 states that an organisation that holds a security organisation licence must take reasonable precautions to ensure that weapons under the licence are not accessible to a person other than an endorsed representative or an employee of the organisation who holds a security licence (guard) or firearms licence (instructor). 

It also outlines the legislative requirements regarding

• Vaults; and
• vault doors; and
• safes;

to ensure the secure storage of weapons registered to your licence/s.

Refer to section 50 of the Regulations for further information.