Daddybang wrote:Nigel wrote: The act or regulations could add a condition to category H (sport/target shooting) licences stating that holders of these licences may not use pistols anywhere but on an approved
As someone who doesn't own or use handguns isn't this condition in place already as referred to by Brett and Pomemax above??
No, there is no provision that actually says this. People have arrived at this conclusion via the following logic path:
1) Section 8(1) says cat H (sport/target) licensees are authorised to "possess or use a registered pistol only for the purposes of participating in competitive shooting activities that are approved by the Commissioner"
2) All of the competitive shooting activities that have been approved by the Commissioner are held at approved ranges
3) Ergo cat H (sport/target) licensees are banned from using pistols anywhere but on an approved range
The core of my long winded arguments above are:
1) The authority in s8(1) includes implied authorities to use and posses outside of actual competitive events or the act is unworkable and everyone is breaking the law.
2) The authority provided in s8(1) can be clarified, expanded or restricted by other provisions in the act and regulations.
The authority has be clarified by clause 33 of the regulations. This gives all licence holders the authority to sight in, tune and test firearms and specifically states that this authority is not restricted to authorised ranges.