❓ Hon Rick Mazza questions the Minister for Police regarding additional scrutiny applied to firearm licence applicants, specifically concerning property letters required for recreational hunting/shooting, and seeks clarification on the legal basis for these inquiries. The Minister confirms awareness and cites section 11A of the Firearms Act 1973.
AnsweredQoN 670Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE —
FIREARMS LICENCE APPLICATIONS
670. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
Section 11A(2) of the Firearms Act
1973, states —
A person has a genuine
reason for acquiring or possessing a firearm or ammunition if and only if —
�
(c)
it is for use in hunting or shooting of a recreational nature on land the owner
of which has given written permission for that hunting or shooting;
An extensive and thorough report, ''Review
of the Firearms Act 1973 (WA)'' by the Law Reform Commission carefully
considered section 11A(2)(c) and stated —
� the Commission acknowledges that no
evidence has been provided to suggest that the current property letter system
has been a threat to public safety.
Further, recommendation 57 of the
Law Reform Commission review states —
The place where a firearm may be used
should not be restricted only to those properties that were the subject of the
property letters.
(1) Is the
minister aware that recent applicants for firearms licences are being asked to
provide answers to the following questions: How did you obtain your property
letter; if through a dealer, which dealer? Was there a cost involved in
obtaining the letter; if so, what was that cost? Do you know where the property
is located? Do you know the property owner/manager; if so, how long have you
known him or her? What is your relationship to that person? Have you visited
the property? When do you intend to visit the property? Are there any other
properties that you shoot on?
(2) Under which section of the act
or regulations are these questions being asked?
FIREARMS LICENCE APPLICATIONS
670. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
Section 11A(2) of the Firearms Act
1973, states —
A person has a genuine
reason for acquiring or possessing a firearm or ammunition if and only if —
�
(c)
it is for use in hunting or shooting of a recreational nature on land the owner
of which has given written permission for that hunting or shooting;
An extensive and thorough report, ''Review
of the Firearms Act 1973 (WA)'' by the Law Reform Commission carefully
considered section 11A(2)(c) and stated —
� the Commission acknowledges that no
evidence has been provided to suggest that the current property letter system
has been a threat to public safety.
Further, recommendation 57 of the
Law Reform Commission review states —
The place where a firearm may be used
should not be restricted only to those properties that were the subject of the
property letters.
(1) Is the
minister aware that recent applicants for firearms licences are being asked to
provide answers to the following questions: How did you obtain your property
letter; if through a dealer, which dealer? Was there a cost involved in
obtaining the letter; if so, what was that cost? Do you know where the property
is located? Do you know the property owner/manager; if so, how long have you
known him or her? What is your relationship to that person? Have you visited
the property? When do you intend to visit the property? Are there any other
properties that you shoot on?
(2) Under which section of the act
or regulations are these questions being asked?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) It is under section 11A of the
Firearms Act 1973.
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) It is under section 11A of the
Firearms Act 1973.
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