Gday all, new to firearms and just found this site today and stumbled upon this thread (because Its relevant to me) and i feel i have to add a couple of things!
Lorgar wrote:yookehoo wrote:so if i want do target shooing ,i need to join a target club and get that licence?
Target shooting has to be done at a range.
I cant find anything in the firearms act that says target shooting must be done at a range, rather i find info saying you CAN target shoot on private property as long as the property is suitable.
Firearms ACT 1996 wrote:(5A) If one of the reasons for the licence is sport or
target shooting, the holder must not engage in
sport or target shooting except—
(a) at an approved shooting range; or
(b) on land owned by the holder, where the
activity is being carried out in accordance
with the regulations; or
(c) on land not owned by the holder, where the
owner of the land has given permission for
the carrying out of the activity and where the
activity is being conducted in accordance
with the regulations. ]
So as part C clearly states, if you hold a target licence you CAN target shoot on (suitable) private property as long as you have land owners permission or as part B describes if you own said land.
On topic but not relating to quoted post:
I also find NOTHING mentioning anything about people holding licences for hunting not being allowed to shoot targets on private property?
Also, I couldn't find any rule about this "5 person 3 hour" stuff ive seen mentioned?
If any Victorians know of the rules outlining these other 2 previously mentioned claims, please point me to page in the act, because I word searched the whole document and found nawt relating to them.I will be target shooting on a mates farm and want to ensure i am following all laws.
Regardless of what regular members of the po-po say, the firearms act is the law, anybody after proper advice should contact local DFO rather than just asking a general officer (or worse, relying on internet forums!) who may not actually know the law!.Or you can just read the ACT as i have done.
Not ragging on anybody, im just trying to make sure i obey the rules and to clear up some obvious mis conceptions that could possibly turn of new people considering the sport, maybe these rules apply in other states (im Victorian so im researching laws apply to me, not other states, sorry guys!) or years gone by, the paragraph i quoted about target shooting on private property is DIRECTLY FROM THE FIREARMS ACT 1996 page 294 so is absolutely accurate, not word of mouth or something some bloke said.
As a person who has recently completed the safety course and testing i was very underwhelmed by the scope of information provided by instructors,unless you know what questions to ask and actively ask them, there's so much information they don't cover AND that the handbook doesn't cover, the only way to find it is ready the 300 od page act or contacting local DFO (mine grumbled at me for asking a couple questions and pretty well told me to read the ACT! Your results may vary!), which is stupid IMHO. Its exactly the same in the fishing community, so i guess i shouldn't be surprised!