We have credible information that the Queensland Police Service Weapons Licensing Branch (WLB) is planning to restrict “large calibre” rifles, despite not having any legislative basis for doing so.
Members have reported for some time receiving “Please explain” letters whenever they lodged PTAs for rifles in the .338 Lapua Magnum calibre, with WLB citing concern the cartridge was “too large” for range use and excessive for hunting use on the sort of game encountered in QLD.
Worse, this attitude has now spread to other previously acceptable calibres including .300 Winchester Magnum and the venerable (and incredibly versatile) .375 Holland & Holland Magnum cartridge.
Applicants for these calibres have been asked for proof of their long-range (1km+) shooting experience and abilities, despite the .375 H&H not having the range for that and not being used for those purposes anyway and .300 Winchester Magnum not being considered a “large calibre” by most shooting professionals.
There is absolutely nothing in the Weapons Act or Regulations restricting or banning any rifle calibre except .50BMG.
As far as Shooters Union is concerned, all centrefire rifle calibres except .50BMG are acceptable for any recreational or occupational shooting use and it should not be up for debate or interpretation by civil servants with limited firearm knowledge.
Also please remember: These “First and final notices” from WLB are not an official rejection – they are a request for more information. Members who have provided enough information have generally (but not always) had their PTAs processed.
We’ve been given unsatisfactory responses by WLB when we’ve raised this issue and are now working with the Police Minister’s offices – we have been pleased by his response, helped by the literally hundreds of letters and e-mails sent to the Minister by you, our members.
We believe WLB are not giving the Minister the full picture regarding what is going on, and even appear to be doubling down on their attacks on PTA applicants as a result of their shenanigans being exposed – we are seeing an increasing number of people applying for unremarkable centrefire calibres receiving “first and final notices”, because they already own other Category B firearms.
Pagan Firearms in Townsville have put together a very helpful video on applying for PTA applications – and in particular pre-emptively providing the information WLB want – which we encourage you to watch: https://www.facebook.com/paganfirearms/videos/9736721499718285
Just to reiterate: We do not accept the state of affairs where all this extra information is required, and we are working to get back to situations back to where it used to be (ie, “hunting/recreational shooting” or “target shooting” being acceptable information on its on), but for now, unfortunately the extra information is required.
