New Victorian regulations for sport or target shooting on Private property
5 November 1998
The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1998 allows sport or target shooting with longarms on private property under circumstances set out in Regulations.
The Regulations setting out these circumstances, the Firearms (Prescribed Circumstances) Regulations 1998, commenced on Monday, 7 September 1998.
Do the Regulations affect sport or target shooting on approved shooting ranges or hunting?
No. Sport or target shooting
on shooting ranges approved by Victoria Police or hunting are not affected
by these Regulations.
Who can sport or target shoot on private property?
The following people can sport or target shoot on private property;
-
people with a licence for category A or B firearms that is issued for the purpose of sport or target shooting (including clay target shooting)
-
people with a licence for category C firearms that is issued for the purpose of clay target shooting (semiautomatic or pump action shotgun)
-
juniors with a junior licence that is issued for category A or B firearms or for category C firearms for the purpose of clay target shooting.
Under what circumstances can sport or target shooting occur on private property?
Target shooting on private property can occur under the following circumstances;
-
a person taking part in the shooting activity must not discharge a firearm within;
- 250 metres of a house unless permission has been granted by the occupier of the land on which the dwelling is situated; or
- 100 metres of a public road
-
when a rifle is being used a target must be used as well as a backstop within 20 metres behind the target.
-
a person when shooting must be stationary.
-
the shooting activity must not take place between sunset and sunrise.
-
the shooting activity must not be advertised or formally organised or formally scheduled and there must be no financial benefit involved.
-
a person taking part in the shooting activity must not consume or be under the influence of alcohol or be under the influence of a drug.
-
if more than 5 persons will take part in the shooting activity and it will go on continuously for more than 3 hours, the nearest open police station must be notified (either verbally or in writing) before the activity takes place. In making the notification the following information needs to be provided:
- the name,address and contact telephone number of the person making the notification;
- the land on which the activity is to take place;
- the day on which the activity is to take place; and
- the nature of the shooting activity
Home > Research archive > 1998 > New Victorian regulations for sport or target shooting on Private property