Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
New South Wales. 1996 ‘General Restrictions on Issue of Licences.’ Firearms Act 1996 No 46 (Act Current to 24 November 2015); Section 11 (Part 2). Sydney: New South Wales Government. 28 June
Relevant contents
11. General Restrictions on Issue of Licences
(1) The Commissioner may issue a licence in respect of an application, or refuse any such application.
(2) A licence must not be issued until after the end of the period of 28 days following the day on which the application is made.
(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply if the application is for the renewal of a licence (including the renewal of a category A or B licence that involves the addition of either of those licence categories to the previous licence).
(3) A licence must not be issued unless:
(a) the Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person and can be trusted to have possession of firearms without danger to public safety or to the peace, and
(b) in the case of a person who has never held a licence (including a firearms licence under a previous Act), the applicant has completed, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, such firearms training and safety courses as are prescribed by the regulations in respect of the licence concerned, and
(c) the Commissioner is satisfied that the storage and safety requirements set out in Part 4 are capable of being met by the applicant, and
(d) the Commissioner is satisfied that the person to whom the licence is to be issued is a resident of this State or is about to become a resident of this State.
(3A) Despite subsection (3) (b), the Commissioner may require an applicant for a licence to complete such firearms training and safety courses as are approved by the Commissioner in relation to the category of licence concerned.
(4) Without limiting the generality of subsection (3) (a), a licence must not be issued if the Commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that the applicant may not personally exercise continuous and responsible control over firearms because of
(a) the applicant's way of living or domestic circumstances, or
(b) any previous attempt by the applicant to commit suicide or cause a self-inflicted injury, or
(c) the applicant's intemperate habits or being of unsound mind.
(5) A licence must not be issued to a person who:
(a) is under the age of 18, or
(b) has, within the period of 10 years before the application for the licence was made, been convicted in New South Wales or elsewhere of an offence prescribed by the regulations, whether or not the offence is an offence under New South Wales law, or
(c) is subject to an apprehended violence order or who has, at any time within 10 years before the application for the licence was made, been subject to such an order (other than an order that has been revoked), or
(d) is subject to a good behaviour bond, whether entered into in New South Wales or elsewhere, in relation to an offence prescribed by the regulations, or
(e) is subject to a firearms prohibition order.
(5A) A licence must not be issued to a person if the Commissioner is of the opinion, having regard to any criminal intelligence report or other criminal information held in relation to the person, that:
(a) the person is a risk to public safety, and
(b) the issuing of the licence would be contrary to the public interest.
(5B) The Commissioner is not, under this or any other Act or law, required to give any reasons for not issuing a licence on the grounds referred to in subsection (5A).
(6) Except in the case of a firearms dealer licence or where the applicant's genuine reason is business or employment, a licence must not be issued to a person who is not a natural person.
(7) Despite any other provision of this section, the Commissioner may refuse to issue a licence if the Commissioner considers that issue of the licence would be contrary to the public interest.
(8) The regulations may provide other mandatory or discretionary grounds for refusing the issue of a licence.
[According to Part 1 Section 4 of this Act, 'apprehended violence order' means:
(a) a final apprehended violence order under the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007, or
(b) a final order made under Part 15A of the Crimes Act 1900 before its repeal, or
(c) an order or decision under an Act or law of a place other than New South Wales, being an order or decision that is prescribed for the purposes of this definition by the regulations.]