Bowhunter wasting his time?

[Galvs]

Hi guys first post on here, hopefully its not my last haha!
Im 31, from se qld and have been bowhunting since i was 13 and a member of the ABA for a few years...I want to get my A/B licence but im not to sure if ill be wasting my time applying. The reason is that i had a conviction for serious assault about 6 yrs ago and ive had a parking inspector i verbally abused charge me for common assualt about a year ago( no conviction).
I've spoken to weapons licencing but they could not comment on the situation without an application put in front of them.
I would like to just apply but id prefer to not waste the money.....any info would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

[Supaduke]

Applications are free I believe , at least they are in Victoria . No fees payable until application is approved. A conviction of that sort and within a 10 year period will make life tough though.

[bladeracer]

Hi guys first post on here, hopefully its not my last haha!
Im 31, from se qld and have been bowhunting since i was 13 and a member of the ABA for a few years...I want to get my A/B licence but im not to sure if ill be wasting my time applying. The reason is that i had a conviction for serious assault about 6 yrs ago and ive had a parking inspector i verbally abused charge me for common assualt about a year ago( no conviction).
I've spoken to weapons licencing but they could not comment on the situation without an application put in front of them.
I would like to just apply but id prefer to not waste the money.....any info would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

I'd suggest getting advice from one of the firearm lawyers before you make the application.
Obviously that would cost you something, but that's the price you pay for obnoxious behavior.

[Gwion]

Conviction for a violent offence recorded within 10 years... you probably have 4 years to wait. Definitely so if a weapon was involved in the offence.

[Galvs]

Applications are free I believe , at least they are in Victoria . No fees payable until application is approved. A conviction of that sort and within a 10 year period will make life tough though.

I think SSAA is about $110 for the year and Safety course is another $60 up here......
QLD police website says conviction is spent after five years which mine is....

[Galvs]

Conviction for a violent offence recorded within 10 years... you probably have 4 years to wait. Definitely so if a weapon was involved in the offence.

I accidently hit a police officer by flicking a cigarette while i was intoxicated and copped a serious assualt charge.... i was not aggressive or intended to do it by any means....

[Galvs]

I'd suggest getting advice from one of the firearm lawyers before you make the application.
Obviously that would cost you something, but that's the price you pay for obnoxious behavior.[/quote]

Thanks blade racer but ive paid the consequences already and im aware of what i have and havent done.....

[bladeracer]

I'd suggest getting advice from one of the firearm lawyers before you make the application.
Obviously that would cost you something, but that's the price you pay for obnoxious behavior.

Thanks blade racer but ive paid the consequences already and im aware of what i have and havent done.....[/quote]


Sorry, wasn't having a dig, just mentioning that behavior like that can haunt a person for a very long time.
The lawyer should be able to advise you on what to include in the application as well as what if any problems from your past might need addressing.

[bladeracer]

Applications are free I believe , at least they are in Victoria . No fees payable until application is approved. A conviction of that sort and within a 10 year period will make life tough though.

I think SSAA is about $110 for the year and Safety course is another $60 up here......
QLD police website says conviction is spent after five years which mine is....

Do you have to join SSAA to get a licence in Qld?

[Galvs]

I do as my reason for getting a licence will be for sport!

[Gwion]

Look at the local regs (available online) and licence application form. It will ask if you have had a conviction in 'x' amount of time. If you can honestly answer NO to that question, then all is good.

[bladeracer]

I do as my reason for getting a licence will be for sport!

I always recommend putting hunting and sport for your reasons. If you only put sport then you can _only_ use your firearms at approved ranges.

[Mitch]

I do as my reason for getting a licence will be for sport!

I always recommend putting hunting and sport for your reasons. If you only put sport then you can _only_ use your firearms at approved ranges.

In QLD it used to be even if you said "sport" you automatically get RE1 as well which is rec shooting on rural lands.

From what I've heard mate you'd need to apply, make sure anything that's happened you put down, even if no conviction recorded. People have been charged before, had the charges dropped, and still then been questioned as to why they didn't state that they had been charged.

Will have to pay the fee, which I think is $80 plus licence (5 years + fee is about 300 I think), then sit back and wait. If rejected I have heard of someone receiving a refund, probably not of the application fee but certainly of the licence fee.

Hope this helps.

[Galvs]

Thanks guys i think i might just have to give it a go and see what happens......

[pete1]

When i did my safety course the police officer there was very helpful and could answer about every question that was thrown at him. That was in VIC, it may not be the case if its a RTO running the course in Queensland as I'm not sure who runs the QLD safety course. Best of luck getting your answer.

[tom604]

roll the dice wouldn't spend money on a lawyer unless it was cheaper than the application and i think thats free,,if they say no they should tell you why and

[AnotherMisfire]

I do as my reason for getting a licence will be for sport!

I always recommend putting hunting and sport for your reasons. If you only put sport then you can _only_ use your firearms at approved ranges.

In QLD it used to be even if you said "sport" you automatically get RE1 as well which is rec shooting on rural lands.

From what I've heard mate you'd need to apply, make sure anything that's happened you put down, even if no conviction recorded. People have been charged before, had the charges dropped, and still then been questioned as to why they didn't state that they had been charged.

Will have to pay the fee, which I think is $80 plus licence (5 years + fee is about 300 I think), then sit back and wait. If rejected I have heard of someone receiving a refund, probably not of the application fee but certainly of the licence fee.

Hope this helps.

The refund is something like the full amount -$20.

Declare everything (including traffic).

Your history as you've described it does not include any automatically disqualifying offences.

Also, you will be asked to explain in writing why you're fit for a licence. So to speed up your application attach a letter which addresses any past indiscretions in full. I'd recommend when you're writing it you should focus on what happened, why you're sorry and how you've changed. Trying to "play down" whatever happened is not the best step.

Also, if you don't want to pay the SSAA fee until you know if you're approved, try joining the Shooters Union. It's more like $35.

Curious though... was that your charge for Assualt-Obstruct under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act?

-Am

[NukeBOMB88]

Conviction for a violent offence recorded within 10 years... you probably have 4 years to wait. Definitely so if a weapon was involved in the offence.

I accidently hit a police officer by flicking a cigarette while i was intoxicated and copped a serious assualt charge.... i was not aggressive or intended to do it by any means....

That f$@ken sucks man

[Galvs]

I do as my reason for getting a licence will be for sport!

I always recommend putting hunting and sport for your reasons. If you only put sport then you can _only_ use your firearms at approved ranges.

In QLD it used to be even if you said "sport" you automatically get RE1 as well which is rec shooting on rural lands.

From what I've heard mate you'd need to apply, make sure anything that's happened you put down, even if no conviction recorded. People have been charged before, had the charges dropped, and still then been questioned as to why they didn't state that they had been charged.

Will have to pay the fee, which I think is $80 plus licence (5 years + fee is about 300 I think), then sit back and wait. If rejected I have heard of someone receiving a refund, probably not of the application fee but certainly of the licence fee.

Hope this helps.

The refund is something like the full amount -$20.

Declare everything (including traffic).

Your history as you've described it does not include any automatically disqualifying offences.

Also, you will be asked to explain in writing why you're fit for a licence. So to speed up your application attach a letter which addresses any past indiscretions in full. I'd recommend when you're writing it you should focus on what happened, why you're sorry and how you've changed. Trying to "play down" whatever happened is not the best step.

Also, if you don't want to pay the SSAA fee until you know if you're approved, try joining the Shooters Union. It's more like $35.

Curious though... was that your charge for Assualt-Obstruct under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act?

-Am

Thanks for the advice mate its much appreciated!
As to answer your question on the actual charge under the act i couldnt actually tell you.....which leads me to ask you " how would that affect things and how would i find out?"...(right to information application?)
A bloke from weapons licensing gave the same advice as you did after i explained everything to him....
He said that they can see every detail of an offence ( which a costly police check might not show all offences ) so his advice was that to admit to and explain everything! Admission is a green light to them. Lying or hiding anything is a red light. He said all i could do is apply and see.

[Galvs]

Conviction for a violent offence recorded within 10 years... you probably have 4 years to wait. Definitely so if a weapon was involved in the offence.

I accidently hit a police officer by flicking a cigarette while i was intoxicated and copped a serious assualt charge.... i was not aggressive or intended to do it by any means....

That f$@ken sucks man

Sure does mate!
Wrong place, wrong time for the police officer and myself!
Wrong decision to start smoking darts too!
It is what it is though......its gonna really hurt if i get knocked back!

[Gamerancher]

Best of luck with it Galvs.
You do realize that if successful you are entering into a lifetime "good behavior" bond?

[Galvs]

Best of luck with it Galvs.
You do realize that if successful you are entering into a lifetime "good behavior" bond?

Totally understand that mate! Life changed when i got married and had kids.....gotta be good for the kids futures!

[bladeracer]

For a new shooter you've already got a bunch of veterans in your corner, can hardly go wrong
Best of luck with it!

[Galvs]

For a new shooter you've already got a bunch of veterans in your corner, can hardly go wrong
Best of luck with it!

Cheers mate i didnt expect the help ive had!
As soon as you say you have had a conviction people mistake you for murderer or drug dealer!
I have to admit i was a bit hesitant asking such questions hahaha

[bladeracer]

For a new shooter you've already got a bunch of veterans in your corner, can hardly go wrong
Best of luck with it!

Cheers mate i didnt expect the help ive had!
As soon as you say you have had a conviction people mistake you for murderer or drug dealer!
I have to admit i was a bit hesitant asking such questions hahaha

Wait until you start telling people you own firearms then
We're regarded as potential criminals of the lowest kind by some parts of the public.

[Galvs]

For a new shooter you've already got a bunch of veterans in your corner, can hardly go wrong
Best of luck with it!

Cheers mate i didnt expect the help ive had!
As soon as you say you have had a conviction people mistake you for murderer or drug dealer!
I have to admit i was a bit hesitant asking such questions hahaha

Wait until you start telling people you own firearms then
We're regarded as potential criminals of the lowest kind by some parts of the public.

Unfortunately ive already been through all of that through bowhunting!
I was torn down by veteran members of a bowhunting forum for shooting a carp!
I had the revenge only this once by letting them know it had just been legalised!

[AnotherMisfire]

Best of luck with it Galvs.
You do realize that if successful you are entering into a lifetime "good behavior" bond?

We're all on that

[AnotherMisfire]

I do as my reason for getting a licence will be for sport!

I always recommend putting hunting and sport for your reasons. If you only put sport then you can _only_ use your firearms at approved ranges.

In QLD it used to be even if you said "sport" you automatically get RE1 as well which is rec shooting on rural lands.

From what I've heard mate you'd need to apply, make sure anything that's happened you put down, even if no conviction recorded. People have been charged before, had the charges dropped, and still then been questioned as to why they didn't state that they had been charged.

Will have to pay the fee, which I think is $80 plus licence (5 years + fee is about 300 I think), then sit back and wait. If rejected I have heard of someone receiving a refund, probably not of the application fee but certainly of the licence fee.

Hope this helps.

The refund is something like the full amount -$20.

Declare everything (including traffic).

Your history as you've described it does not include any automatically disqualifying offences.

Also, you will be asked to explain in writing why you're fit for a licence. So to speed up your application attach a letter which addresses any past indiscretions in full. I'd recommend when you're writing it you should focus on what happened, why you're sorry and how you've changed. Trying to "play down" whatever happened is not the best step.

Also, if you don't want to pay the SSAA fee until you know if you're approved, try joining the Shooters Union. It's more like $35.

Curious though... was that your charge for Assualt-Obstruct under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act?

-Am

Thanks for the advice mate its much appreciated!
As to answer your question on the actual charge under the act i couldnt actually tell you.....which leads me to ask you " how would that affect things and how would i find out?"...(right to information application?)
A bloke from weapons licensing gave the same advice as you did after i explained everything to him....
He said that they can see every detail of an offence ( which a costly police check might not show all offences ) so his advice was that to admit to and explain everything! Admission is a green light to them. Lying or hiding anything is a red light. He said all i could do is apply and see.

Don't worry about finding the detail if you're not sure.

Maybe what the weapons licensing guy was alluding to is that they can see not only the charge but also the reports about what occurred by the police reports.

I can't emphasise enough from my legal work (not a lawyer, but I work for a legal firm), they will care less about what you did and more about how much you accept it and have committed to change.

In this way, they are kind of similar to us, the shooting community. We're open to someone who has had some bumps and wobbles. But we're keen to make sure our fellow members behave in a way that doesn't hurt our sport/livelihood.



Andy

[Tank]

If it's any help. My experience is perseverance and not taking no for an answer sometimes prevails.
It may not happen immediately but if you keep up the good fight.....and your head together.....it's worth the struggle.
But I must agree with Andy. The police were my best witness as to my real character and in the end that's what mattered.

[Bark]

I was torn down by veteran members of a bowhunting forum

It's a bunch of blokes here mate

Don't need to worry about that kind of douche-bag response when you post questions on this forum.