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Bricknell, Samantha. 2012 ‘National Handgun Control Agreement (2002).’ Firearm Trafficking and Serious and Organised Crime Gangs; Research and Public Policy Series No. 116, p. 10. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology. 1 June

Relevant contents

Following the death of two students in a handgun shooting at Monash University in October 2002, the Australian, state and territory governments implemented further legislative reforms through the introduction of the National Handgun Control Agreement (2002).

The Agreement comprised 28 resolutions aimed at restricting the availability and use of handguns, particularly those that are easily concealable.

The resolutions included a restriction on the possession of handguns based on calibre, barrel length and magazine capacity, a system of graduated access to handguns for legitimate sporting shooters and provisions to prevent 'club shopping', through the introduction of requirements for a person wishing to join a club to provide details to the club of any other shooting clubs to which they belonged and the firearms they owned.

Handguns would be limited to a maximum of .38" calibre (up to .45" calibre for shooters attending specially accredited sporting events), with prohibition on semi-automatic handguns with a barrel length of less than 120mm and revolvers and single shot handguns with a barrel length of less than 100mm.

In reference to the National Firearms Trafficking Policy Agreement (2002), the resolutions reiterated the need to establish substantial penalties for illegal possession.

The National Handgun Control Agreement (2002) was accompanied by a national handgun buyback scheme which ran from 1 July to 31 December 2003. This scheme provided compensation to owners surrendering handguns, handgun parts and accessories to state and territory authorities during the specified six month period. States and territories providing compensation were reimbursed by the Australian Government under the National Handgun Buyback Act 2003 (Cth) which enabled the Commonwealth to 'appropriate funds for the purpose of providing financial assistance'.

ID: Q13282

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