by NTSOG » 13 Jul 2018, 4:26 pm
doc: ''however if the police will be equally concerned about the lack of specific prohibition in the new wording regarding private suburban back yards - this may work in our favour as we may just see a fire lit under this and it resolved a little quicker!''
I suspect that if I was to go into a forest with my rifle and be charged under the current confusing regulations there would not be much fuss, i.e. bad press or political fallout. After all some people do poach animals illegally. We know that some drongo shot a red deer doe about 800 yards behind our property a couple of years ago and left it there to rot. Some poachers are caught, some are not. It happens.
However if someone on the fringe of suburbia, perhaps on his private [and therefore not public space or place] 5-10 acres, was to set up a safe range, i.e. was not behaving ''recklessly'' as per s130, to zero a rifle there would be hell to pay. As soon as a shot was fired, there would be multiple calls to 000 and every copper, Polair and even the SOG boys would be there with sirens wailing. Then there would be every TV station and their choppers. The current confusion about s130 would quickly become obvious and big news.
As for the following:
''Am I eligible to apply for a public place permit (PPP) for the purpose of vermin control, performing acts and re-enactment?
Section 130 of the Firearms Act 1996 regulates the carriage or use of firearms in certain places in Victoria. To be eligible for a populous place permit you must provide evidence to support your application.
Applicants who require a PPP for use or carriage of a firearm in an enclosed area will be considered provided they hold their licence for any of the following genuine reasons:
Professional Hunter
(Professional Business) Vermin (Pest) Controller
Performing Arts and Re-enactment Groups
Municipal Council employees
Govt Dept e.g. DELWP employer
Feral Bird Control
Veterinary Purposes
Zoo employees''
I am none of the above, especially ''professional hunter'', but:
''Applicants who require a PPP for use or carriage of a firearm in an open area (e.g. farmland or football ground) will be considered provided they hold their licence for any of the following genuine reasons:
Primary Production
Hunting
Sport/Target''
I am still not a professional hunter. As I remarked in a previous post, why add an extra licensing requirement [burden] to already licensed people? Unless the purpose is to discourage people from hunting with firearms in state forests????
Jim