Placing weapons in safekeeping
Your weapon/s can be held in safekeeping by a licensed Weapons Dealer or Armourer for an indefinite period.
Section 36 of the Weapons Act 1990 allows a person to possess a weapon on a temporary basis for a period not exceeding three months. After the three month period, the licence holder safekeeping the weapons will be required to appropriately dispose of the weapon/s with the consent of the owner.
Licence Holder must ensure that they hold a licence for the category of weapon they are intending to safekeep.
An unregistered weapon cannot be held in safekeeping by a licence holder. The weapon must first be registered.
A Dealer/Armourer can safekeep both a registered weapon, and accept an unregistered weapon for registration. The Dealer will advise Weapons Licensing that the weapon is held at their premises for safekeeping.
After the 3 months Safekeeping period
The person safekeeping the weapons must with the consent of the owner:
Deliver the weapon to a licensed dealer for consignment sale or safekeeping; or
Surrender the weapon to your local Police Station; or
Return the weapon to the registered owner, if they hold a current licence; or
If the weapon is to be acquired by another licensed person, a Permit to Acquire (PTA) must be obtained for the weapon. The weapon cannot be put into safekeeping with another licence holder and must be disposed by one of the above methods until the PTA has been approved.
Buying a weapon in safekeeping
(i.e. the weapon is stored with a disposer who is not the registered owner)
From a Licensed Individual
If the person you are purchasing the weapon from is not the registered owner of the weapon a Letter of Authority is not required as the owner is required to sign the Permit to Acquire once it is issued. The registered owner's details will print on the PTA and they authorise the sale when they sign the PTA.
If the registered owner will not be able to sign the Permit to Acquire, a Letter of Authority may be required, please contact Weapons Licensing on 07 3015 7777 from 9.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, for advice on your situation.
Should you require a Letter of Authorisation, it must confirm details of the weapon, permit the sale and disposal of the nominated weapon.
From a Weapons Dealer
If you are purchasing a weapon
through a licensed Weapons Dealer check whether the weapon is being held by them
in safekeeping or whether the registered owner has authorised them to sell it.
If the weapon is being held in safekeeping then a Letter of Authority is required. The letter must be from the registered owner and must include details of the weapon and authorising the sale and disposal of the weapon by the licensed Weapons Dealer.
If the registered owner has given the licensed Dealer authority to sell the weapon then a Letter of Authority is not required.
From a Police Station
If you are acquiring a registered firearm from a Police Station then a Letter of Authority must be supplied. The letter must be from the registered owner and must include details of the weapon and authorising the sale and disposal of the weapon.
