New Firearms Licensing System Up and Running

Apparently.

Following my earlier posts on licencing firearms in Western Australia here and here, I thought I would bring you up to date on the new system which is operating as of today.

If you want a firearm's licence or to add a new firearm to your licence you need to download a bunch of forms off the Police website, fill them in and take them to the Post Office.

I love warning on the website not to take the guns with you when you attend the Post Office!

Now you would think that a new system would have a nice webpage summarising the process, wouldn't you? Well if there is one I can't find it.

I did find the FAQ page - in Word document format - with this information:

Q: I want to apply for a Firearm Licence. What do I have to do?
A Firearm Licence entitles the holder to possess, carry, and lawfully use the firearm/s named and identified in that licence, and ammunition for that firearm.
Refer to Section 16(1)(a) of the Firearms Act.

An approval is determined by the category or type of firearm applied for, and the reason for which it is required.

· Application for a Firearm Licence is to be completed online by the applicant, then validated and printed. Refer www.police.wa.gov.au and follow the links.

· You must attend a nominated Australia Post outlet with your application, supporting documentation and fee.
Note: If your application is for a first time issue (original) Firearm Licence, you will need to supply the following in addition to your supporting documentation:
- Firearm Awareness Certificate (obtained from authorised persons of approved Clubs/Associations).
- Firearm Serviceability Certificate for each firearm (obtained from the seller of the firearm).
The term “supporting documentation” may include but not limited to, the following:
- Property Letter/Primary Producer Advice
- Club Support Letter
- Occupational Requirement Disclosure
- Identification Exemption Certificate
- Proof of Property Ownership
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Certificate of Registered Business Name
A 28 day cooling-off period will apply to first time issue (original) applicants for a Firearm Licence. This means your licence will not be processed until after the 28 days.

· For first time issue (original) firearm licence applications, Police Licensing Services (PLS) will mail you a letter requesting that you confirm your intention to proceed with your application and to fit an approved cabinet to store your firearm. You will need to provide a Statutory Declaration evidencing this. Refer www.police.wa.gov.au and follow the links to “Licensing requirements/Storage”.
Note: Failure to advise PLS of your intentions to continue with your application within a further 28 days will result in your application lapsing and the application will be declined.

· The applicant will receive notification of acceptance or refusal in the mail. If successful, you will be issued a licence (via post).

· For a first time issue (original) Firearm Licence, this notification will also include a request for you to attend a post office to have your photograph taken for an Extract of Licence card which incurs a fee. This card will be mailed to you at a later stage.

· If refused, and you are applying for an original licence, you will be forwarded a partial refund of the original payment and receive documentation detailing the reasons for this decision.

AND:

Q: I want to apply for a Category H firearm. What do I have to do?
Follow the same process as an application for a Firearm Licence.
Active members of firearm clubs can apply for a Category H firearm (handgun) subject to certain conditions and/or restrictions.
The only exceptions (non-club purposes) are:
· professional or recreational divers (for power heads);
· required in the course of the person’s occupation (restrictions do apply); and
· Commonwealth or State Government purposes.
Note: Hunting, recreational shooting or vermin control are not deemed to be a “genuine reason” for possessing a firearm of this type.

Also found in the FAQs are these helpful answers:

Q: Do I have to carry my Firearm Licence?
If seeking to purchase ammunition or if you are in possession of a firearm you will need to produce your Firearm Licence on demand.

Q: Do I have to carry my photo card?
If seeking to purchase ammunition or if you are in possession of a firearm you will need to produce your Firearm Licence on demand.

Umm, guys, they're two different things so you didn't actually answer the second question!

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Anyway, it will be interesting to see how quickly new licenses and additions are processed through the new system.

I think the problems are going to revolve around the two forms mentioned above:
- Firearm Awareness Certificate (obtained from authorised persons of approved Clubs/Associations).
- Firearm Serviceability Certificate for each firearm (obtained from the seller of the firearm).

The Firearms Awareness Certificate is a piece of paper saying that you have completed the safety questionnaire. This needs to be signed by and "authorised person". I have heard that Club Armourers and Club President's are the only "authorised" people, but that isn't specified on the website or in the FAQs. I know that our club hasn't fully determined who and how this is going to be done.

The Firearm Serviceability Certificate is a form signed by an "authorised" person to say that the firearm is "as described" and "is serviceable". I know that there are lots of liability-type questions about the "is serviceable" aspect. Again I have heard that there are some dealers who are willing to sign it for guns purchased from their shops but I am not sure what is going to happen for "private sales".

Should be an interesting couple of months as the teething issues are ironed out.