"Defacing" a shooting license? Legal? Illegal?

[whert]

Couldn't find anything on Google for this, hopefully you blokes are in the know...

Unlike some smart states, VIC prints owners addresses on your shooters license. Security, yay....

Looks your license, some ****** finds it and we know the rest.

Any reason I can't just scratch the address off?

It still has my name, photo, signature and date of birth on it and I had all the other usual government ID to go with it if I had to show my address. It's quite clearly still mine without the address.

Just wanna make sure I'm not going to get pulled up on some technicality for "defacing" the license. Like... I believe it's illegal to deface money? That kind of thing.

Thoughts? Facts?

[Baldrick314]

Merely a thought but potentially it could become invalid if you remove some of the information from it. I have to check I.D. as part of my job and we can't accept them if they're damaged in any way even if the info is still legible.

Perhaps you could ask one of your local gun dealers if they'd have a problem with it since they're the ones who are most likely to have to see it.

[1290]

I'm going with answer b. illegal


specifically your licence must contain your address. Section 35 or there abouts of the act...

So my advice is do not remove your address. The question is therefore do you carry or when do you carry your lic. When carrying or SUSPECTED to be carrying firearms you must produce your licence upon request by the politz. Does produce mean I'll just nip home and grab it?? Probably not.

[on_one_wheel]

The SA license has no address on it, im glad it doesn't, what a stupid idea putting that on there. I'd be emailing the VicPol or your firearms branch and highlighting this as a major concern to the security of all Vic firearms owners. Atleast with a email you have a record of warning them of a massive issue.
Some day they will be forced to admit that firearms have been stolen as a result of someone finding a wallet with a firearms license in it, they won't be able to say they were unaware of the issue.

This is the part where this forum could be used as a powerful tool to lobby for changes such as making storage of firearms safer by removing addresses from firearms licenses.

I would suggest starting a new thread with the following
. A basic letter addressed to the appropriate authority highlighting the issue and what needs to be done about it.
. An email link for the letter to be sent.
. Some basic information about how to personalize the letter with your name.

I'm sure there would be a Victorian on this forum who could draft a good letter and start the ball rolling.

[1290]

The SA license has no address on it, im glad it doesn't, what a stupid idea putting that on there. I'd be emailing the VicPol or your firearms branch and highlighting this as a major concern to the security of all Vic firearms owners. Atleast with a email you have a record of warning them of a massive issue.
Some day they will be forced to admit that firearms have been stolen as a result of someone finding a wallet with a firearms license in it, they won't be able to say they were unaware of the issue.

Probably more productive to email or telephone your state member, you know, the one you voted for (or not) a couple of weeks ago....The police will give you the old "we only enforce the laws.." reply.

[Chronos]

Meanwhile we have no address on nsw licenced but mines in my wallet next to my drivers license which does.

Chronos

[on_one_wheel]

Meanwhile we have no address on nsw licenced but mines in my wallet next to my drivers license which does.

Chronos

hmmm.... ok....... that's a problem , lets have ask them to remove that too !

[whert]

I have to check I.D. as part of my job and we can't accept them if they're damaged in any way even if the info is still legible.

Perhaps you could ask one of your local gun dealers if they'd have a problem with it since they're the ones who are most likely to have to see it.

When you say you can't accept it, that's legally? Not just a policy of your oganisation?

Asking my LGS is a good idea, will do too.

[whert]

specifically your licence must contain your address. Section 35 or there abouts of the act...

Well that's that then.

About the rest... I do only carry it when shooting but that's obviously not fool proof. You can still lose it whenever.

Just out of luck this on this one I guess.

[brisb]

Pretty sure it's prohibited in one act or another to deface any government issued ID.

In QLD booze venues are supposed to confiscate defaced ID and send to Liquor and Gaming Regulations. Doesn't have to be fake or altered to change an birth date or anything, just if it's defaced at all.

[subatom]

The SA license has no address on it, im glad it doesn't, what a stupid idea putting that on there.

+1

[Baldrick314]

I have to check I.D. as part of my job and we can't accept them if they're damaged in any way even if the info is still legible.

Perhaps you could ask one of your local gun dealers if they'd have a problem with it since they're the ones who are most likely to have to see it.

When you say you can't accept it, that's legally? Not just a policy of your oganisation?

Asking my LGS is a good idea, will do too.

That's a legal requirement.

[bigfellascott]

I don't see a big drama with your firearms license having your address on it, I carry mine in my wallet with my drivers license which also has my address on it, I'm pretty confident crims aren't completely f***ing stupid and could work out where I live from my drivers license.

The trick is not to loose the f***ing thing in the first place - that will prevent any issues

[whert]

That's a legal requirement.

Right, thanks.

[scrolllock]

I don't see a big drama with your firearms license having your address on it, I carry mine in my wallet with my drivers license which also has my address on it, I'm pretty confident crims aren't completely f***ing stupid and could work out where I live from my drivers license.

The trick is not to loose the f***ing thing in the first place - that will prevent any issues

Yeah if you carry everything together obviously it doesn't matter.

I only carry mine while shooting though. If I was to lose it it would be by itself so it is an issue.

Better to have it off too IMO.

[bigfellascott]

I just find it better to have it all there with me so when I need it to buy ammo or reloading components I've got it, nothing worse than rolling up to buy something like that and realise you've left it at home, been there done that so now its with me everytime I go out.

[crys]

2c.

I say it's kind of useless on there anyway. The LGS can't check it off against anything or make sure it's current can they?

No access to your info, so it's just telling them something they don't need to know.

Plus the other risks of losing it etc.