Did you know that there is a Gun amnesty going on at the moment?
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Well there is.
The amnesty runs from July 1 to September 30, 2017 and allows you to hand in unregistered firearms without getting into trouble for it.
You can also hand in registered firearms you no longer need.
There is no limit to the number of items you can hand in.
Those who are licensed and have registered firearms and don’t want to hand them in please remember that the holiday season is coming up fast and will be here sooner than you think.
If you plan to go away on holidays you have to do a bit more organising than the rest of us because you have to make sure that your firearms are safe.
If you are away from the registered storage location (normally your house) and no-one else resides at the premises, you must take reasonable steps to ensure its safe keeping.
Section 39 of the Firearms Act 1996 No46 states the following;
(1) A person who possesses a firearm must take all reasonable precautions to ensure:
(a) its safe keeping, and
(b) that it is not stolen or lost, and
(c) That it does not come into the possession of a person who is not authorised to possess the firearm.
So while you are out cruising the Mediterranean, climbing Mt Everest or even fly fishing for taimen in Mongolia you must ensure that your firearms are safe.
You can do this by having someone house sit.
You can take your guns to a licensed firearms dealer and he can store them until you get back or you can give them to a friend who is licensed for the class of firearm you have for safe keeping.
Just remember, if you do not comply with this section you may end up facing a fine of 50 penalty units or two years in Her Majesties’ timeshare resort or both.
Could all firearm owners also check that your gun cabinets comply with the regulations. They need to be of solid construction.
If you have a flimsy locker and it is found not to comply you may have your firearms licence suspended and your guns seized.
And to keep the licensing sergeant sane, please store your firearms with the bolts and magazines removed and stored in a separate lockable area within the gun safe.
Remember you can Dob in a Druggie any time you like by contacting Nowra Police or ringing Crime Stoppers.
And also do not drink and drive.
As always, in case of an emergency call 000. In non-emergencies call the Policelink on 131 444 or your local police station. To provide anonymous information call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. For domestic and family violence information, visit www.police.nsw.gov.au. For Shoalhaven Domestic Violence officers call 4421 9666 or 44219665 or email shoaldvlo@police.nsw.gov.au.
Don’t forget, cops are tops.