top of page

Firearms Offences

​

There are different classes to firearms which incur different penalties and offences. They are as follows:

  • Class A Firearms: air guns, paint-ball firearms, rim fire rifles, shotguns and break action combination and rim fire rifles.

  • Class B Firearms: muzzle loading firearms (not handguns), revolving chamber rifes, centre fire rifles, multiple barrel centre fire rifles, break action combination shotguns and rifles and all other firearms that are not class A firearms.

  • Class C Firearms: self-loading rim fire rifles having a magazine capacity of 10 rounds or less, self-loading shotguns firearms having a magazine capacity of 5 rounds or less, or pump action shotguns having a magazine capacity of 5 rounds or less.

  • Class D Firearms: self-loading rim fire rifles having a magazine capacity of more than 10 rounds, self-loading centre fire rifles, self-loading shotguns having a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds, or pump action shotguns having a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds.

  • Class H Firearms: includes handguns (not prescribed firearms).

  • Prescribed Firearms: automatic firearms, mortars, bazookas, rocket propelled grenades and similar military firearms designed to fire explosive projectiles, firearms designed to fire projectiles containing tear gas or any other lachrymatory substance o any nauseating substance or poison (but not firearms designed to tranquillise, immobilise, or administer vaccines or other medicines to animals), firearms designed to have the appearance of other objects and firearms declared by the Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) to be prescribed.

 

Penalties for Unauthorised Possession

It is an offence to have possession of a firearm without holding a firearms licence authorising possession of the firearm.

Possession of a firearm is defined to include not only handling a firearm but also having control of it through another person, in your home, or in any vehicle you travel in.

​

Maximum Penalty

Prescribed firearm: $50,000- or 10-years gaol

Class C, D or H firearms: $35,000- or 7-years gaol

Any other firearm: $20,000- or 4-years gaol (or maximum fine of $10,000- or 2-years gaol where the offence is dealt with in the Magistrates Court).

​

There are potential defences to firearms offences. Please contact us for more information.

bottom of page