Newbie needs Help - Victoria

[Squiddy]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum so I thought I'd say g'day because I'm going to be needing help with some licencing and firearms maintenance/inquiries in the future.

After many, many years of procrastination and realising at the age of 32 I do not have any hobbies, I've decided to get my Cat B shooters licence so I can go hunting occasionally and go down to Little River on the weekends occasionally and put holes in things.

I have the next 2 weeks off so I'm going to sort out the details this week.

My understanding of the process is this (please tell me if I'm going about this the right way).

1. I've meet all the eligibility criteria and have a police check that was performed for work anyway in December (not sure if the check is a requirement?).
2. I need to get permission to hunt pest animals on crown land - Is this the right form? http://www.gma.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... orm_zp.doc
Where do I pay the fee for this form? DEPI in the city? Can I do it by credit card over the phone? I dont think there's much point in paying for a club membership fees as I dont think I will be there enough to warrant paying the fee for 12 months. I think at Little River you don't need to be a member, its $35 per session?
3. I book in with a district firearms officer and complete a safety course
4. I submit the application for a cat B licence with the permit, the safety record and pay the fee at the nearest police station that has a firearms officer.

Is that right?

Cheers

[paddy4444]

Looks like someone stole my title

[Baldrick314]

Welcome Squiddy! Can't help you with the licensing stuff, I'm sure on of the other blokes can though. Good luck with it

[Supaduke]

Make sure you go for a cat A/B licence to cover all the bases.

1. Do the firearms safety course
2. Obtain license forms from police website(google it )
3. Get your form signed by the referees indicated on the form
4. Fill out the forms, get identification verified etc EXACTLY like the examples on the form, don't get creative, beaurocrats like uniformity
5. Get the DEPI letter or join SSAA or Field and Game Australia, note SSAA membership also gives you a cool magazine once a month and half price entry at Springvale and little river ranges. Pays for itself in four visits. FGA just a monthly magazine. Getting the letter from memory costs about $16 , it's a nuisance to get, line up in the city etc. by the time you pay for parking I didn't think it was worth the effort
6. Select Hunting AND Target shooting as reason, again to cover all your bases
7. Send off all the forms and ID etc.
8. When it comes back go and pay at a Westpac bank branch, they will stamp it (Westpac deals direct with firearms licensing , they will know what to do and wont give you a blank stare)
9. Once stamped go to VicRoads and get your mugshot and sign the form ( don't sign it before VicRoads , sign it in front of the cashier )
10. Done, this method will reduce the chances of f$&King something up and causing delays
11. To reiterate , DON'T get creative, fill out all forms exactly as instructed, double check you have everything required and filled out correctly

[Oldbloke]

Welcome to the forum.
All the info and forms are here.
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=34324

[<<Genesis93>>]

Supaduke makes it sound so difficult..... its not, just book your test, read the handbook roll up, pass, send your application in.

You do NOT need permission to hunt on public land (aka Crown land)....that form was invented to satisfy the licensing genuine reason bs....
If you intend to do 'some' range shooting and hunting; eaiest is to pay the SSAA membership, whether you agree with their position on issues or suport or not what they do, it ticks the hunting and target shooting boxes, plus, you get 11 issues of the toilet reading every year.

to the forum
to the life of shootin

[Supaduke]

It's not hard, its easy. But if , like me , you don't deal well with forms it's a fair bit of paperwork and running around getting things signed etc. if you get things wrong it delays the process. It's designed , in my opinion , to be a nuisance to discourage you.

Simply provided a step by step process from beginning to end to avoid any stuff ups, delays or wasted time. It's not as simple as 'just send your application in' . In my experience getting the two referees can be difficult for some people.

If you don't dot your i's and cross your t's they will delay the process or knock you back. If you don't do things in the right order once you receive your interim licence it causes hassles and more wasted time. You can't pay at the police station. I have helped several people get their license and all needed a bit of guidance. What I have described above is what must be done.

If you only get cat B and later want cat A you must repeat the entire process. If you only get hunting or only target shooting on your license instead of both , it creates technical legal issues. Like many things it's easy when you know how, but there are several pitfalls that can (and do) trip people up.

[Supaduke]

I'm getting old I think it's only one referee

[<<Genesis93>>]

Although its not difficult. .... it was DESIGNED and IMPLEMENTED to stifle the activity.... designed to reduced the numbers of firearms and certainly not to increase them thats a historic fact....design to discourage and not encourage people getting a licence..

Don't let the mongrels win, sign up, and get your mates and family to sign up too if possible

[juststarting]

Ha! Exactly my story, lol.

Pretty much what Supaduke said.

Point 9 - photo can be taken at bunch of photo points, check the back of the licence letter when you get it. Some Aussie post offices will do, too
Point 11 - EXACLTY how instructed.

[happyhunter]

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[Noisydad]

Designed difficulty is the reason they use Westpac for PTA payments too. There are less Westpac branches than any other back - especially in country areas. Other banks can process your payment but you'll pay an additional fee and have too deal with dumbstruck stares.

[happyhunter]

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[Supaduke]

Designed difficulty is the reason they use Westpac for PTA payments too. There are less Westpac branches than any other back - especially in country areas. Other banks can process your payment but you'll pay an additional fee and have too deal with dumbstruck stares.

Last gun I bought PTA was lodged online by the gun dealer. That arvo he called my mobile saying the PTA was approved and I could come pick up my firearm. He said it was usually a day or two process although the fastest approval in his experience is 15 minutes from application to notifcation. It cost 10 bucks total for the PTA.

Yerp, once past the licencing stage, PTA's are very simple and inexpensive in Victoria . I like to do my part to keep our hard working public servants employed. I like to think my small contribution allows them to maintain their efficiency , integrity and stirling work ethic (cough)

[Squiddy]

Awesome - thanks for the response guys. Will book in with the District Firearms officer today.

Yeah - the system is designed to be a little zig-zaggy and bottleneck applications, but after living in the USA for a year I am happy and thankful for our laws and protocols.

RE the DEPI or SSAA option, I'll have a think about it. Good to know I can grab the DEPI letter in the city on the spot though(?).

I'd probably be going to Little River around 4 times a year - Is it the closest Melbourne Metro centrefire range?

[<<Genesis93>>]

, but after living in the USA for a year I am happy and thankful for our laws and protocols.

W
T
F

[happyhunter]

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[Supaduke]

Little river is the only Metro Melbourne centrefire range

[Heckler303]

Yeah - the system is designed to be a little zig-zaggy and bottleneck applications, but after living in the USA for a year I am happy and thankful for our laws and protocols.

but after living in the USA for a year I am happy and thankful for our laws and protocols

USA

I am happy and thankful for our laws and protocols

thankful for our laws

No fudds allowed.

[juststarting]

[Gwion]

We're all entitled to our opinions on firearms regulations.
I also agree in principle for licencing and checks for firearms owners. The regulatory system and ever increasing restrictions on firearms is all arse about but it is good to have a licencing system, so that not just any/every loon can just wander into Kmart and walk out with a gun and ammo.

[<<Genesis93>>]

I think its reasonable to have a system that EXCLUDES those who have relinquished their certain rights including those of firearm possession; convicted criminals, serving politicians.... sorry what was I thinking

So yes, a system of licensing is absolutely without doubt, reasonable.
Anything after that, registration, redunculous permit to acquire system and generally grouping minor infractions such as the old loose 22 round found during home invasion, sorry, safe inspection - with criminal use of firearms , is to say the least unreasonable....and unnecessary.


So having considered your request, Squiddy, for consideration to be one of the mentally coherent sane and reasonable members of the shooting fraternity...

AND in absence of any moderation or administration presence here within this little community

I hereby sentence you to silence and excommunication until such a time as you contemplate and rescind your offensive to the natural law of this land - statement.

Court adjourned

Gman, your court appearance is scheduled for 8pm this evening

[happyhunter]

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[Gwion]

Mate, i grew up with guns & ammo in Kmart. I think once you are licenced and unless you do something to revoke your licence, then access to firearms and ammo should be more readily available. I didn't say they shouldn't sell stuff more widely, just that not ANY/EVERY loon can just walk in a buy a gun on a whim; without first qualifying for a licence.

I also know people who have no criminal records, as such, but who i would NOT want to have free access to firearms due to erratic and unpredictable volatile behaviours. Police & psych history checks keep guns out of their reach and i'm glad of that.

I also had a friend stabbed to death on a Melbourne train. The guy who did it was known to have homicidal idolations and did it just "because he wanted to know what it was like to kill someone". If he could easily get a gun, 'he may' have killed more people on that train; also a good example of why firearms licencing is a good idea.

[happyhunter]

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[Gwion]

I was under the impression that with 'withholding' period for violent, drug and crimes of dishonesty was 10 years, but i could be mistaken.

The police don't do psych testing but they do look at any significant psych treatment on record, which the two individuals i am talking about both have. Also, it would be much more difficult for the guy who stabbed my mate to buy/make a blackmarket gun than it would if no licencing was required and he could just pop down to kmart and buy a pump action 12g.

I believe there is a happy balance between licencing/regulation and reasonable personal freedoms that can be attained. Unfortunately we are not at that balance here in Australia. It's too easy to break some law or regulation without meaning to, even when you are very conscientious and responsible.

[Oldbloke]

We're all entitled to our opinions on firearms regulations.
I also agree in principle for licencing and checks for firearms owners. The regulatory system and ever increasing restrictions on firearms is all arse about but it is good to have a licencing system, so that not just any/every loon can just wander into Kmart and walk out with a gun and ammo.

Makes sense to me. After all it was the nutters that made it harder for us, the sensible & responsible users. The laws just need to be sensible and not based on irrational emotions. Some are already too restrictive in my view but that does not mean anyone should be able to get a firearm & ammo on a whim. Same with cars and other license requirements. In my view boat owners should need to prove they can swim rather than force people to wear vests. But many would cry over that one.

I have a feeling this will be a hot topic.........

[juststarting]

@happyhunter

I am so sick and tired of this bulls**t, childish arguments... Having free for all McGun culture would inadvertently shape the culture!

He could steal one - no, 'he' could not
He make one - not anything more effective than a knife
No body would sell him anything because that's an audit trail right there, criminals have a much better risk mitigation approach than non-criminals. Jails are bad for business...

Australia has some draconian laws, agree, but for most part - what you are suggesting, a free for all, you have no clue what you are talking about. Your suggestions are both Libertarian and immature - neither are workable in a large industrial society.

You are not doing any favours to anyone, by saying free for all, this is not an argument, this will never happen and it was never the case in Australia. Because of people like you - other people think we are gun crazy maniacs.

Set realistic goals and present a rational argument backed by numbers and risk mitigation or minimisation strategy, before yelling from the roof tops that you would like some tiger blood and a machete. You are the freaking problem, as much as the media and the greens!

[happyhunter]

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[juststarting]

@happyhunter

Okay, I'll bite.

Despite being a certified nutter...

Nutters have at least some evidence that are perhaps based in logical fallacies, but are there never the less - you do not have that. Nutter status denied! By the way did you just admit that you lied on your firearms application (I assume you are an owner of a few)?

this lunatic had no trouble obtaining a firearm illegally.

Absolutely agree - this lunatic did obtain an illegal firearm. However, you have no knowledge whether this was his prior to buy back or what trouble he actually went through obtaining one. But, for argument sake I will humour you - yes you are right - now imagine every lunatic... This is what you are proposing.

Maybe you haven't heard of the 'four winds shotgun?' A 5 year old could make one.

I doubt a 5yo could make one, but I see your misguided point - I did say no more effective than a knife. You will get a shot, sure, same with a knife, same as a stick and a chair. You will get tackled when you try to reload. Cherry picking - a big no.

Like Gwion says, everybody is entitled to their opinion and you obviously can't handle mine so best you take another happy pill to settle those emotions

That's adorable, rather than presenting something factual and quantifiable, you deflect, resort to personal insults and to be perfectly honest reinforce my point.

Your argument and I use this term as loosely as possible in your case, is a blank. It is baseless, it's backed up by nothing, no data whatsoever, not even a statistical blimp - in science, what you did is called cherry picking, in human folklore it's called a dipshit.

You are doing every shooter in Australia a disservice by advocating views (as well meaning as they are) that you, I and everyone else knows are impractical, impossible and cannot be achieved. The flip side to your misguided 'argument' is that you are providing all the ammunition for the anti's.