Firearms Act 1977 (SA)

South Australia

Firearms Act 1977

An Act to control the possession, use and sale of firearms; and for other purposes.

The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows:

This Act may be cited as the Firearms Act 1977.

1. (1)

   In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

to acquire means to acquire through purchase, gift, loan or hire;

active member of a club for a 12 month period means—

1. (a)

   in relation to a collectors' club—

   1. (i)

      a member of the club who has attended four or more meetings of the club during the 12 months; or

   2. (ii)

      a member of the club who has made a personal contribution (not being a financial contribution) to the club during the 12 months in a manner and to an extent that satisfies the Registrar that he or she should be regarded as an active member of the club; or

2. (b)

   in relation to a shooting club and the holder of a firearms licence authorising possession of class H firearms—

   1. (i)

      a member of the club who has participated in shooting club organised competitive shooting matches for class H firearms on at least six occasions during the 12 months; or

   2. (ii)

      a member of the club who satisfies the Registrar that the member failed to meet the requirements of subparagraph (i), during the 12 months, due to the member's ill health or employment obligations or some other reason accepted by the Registrar;

air gun means a firearm (other than a rifle or handgun) designed to fire shot, bullets or other projectiles by means of compressed air or other compressed gas and not by means of burning propellant;

air rifle means a rifle designed to be carried by hand and to fire shot, bullets or other projectiles by means of compressed air or other compressed gas and not by means of burning propellant;

ammunition means ammunition suitable for use in a firearm and includes primers and propellant;

antique firearm means a firearm that—

1. (a)

   was manufactured before 1900; and

2. (b)

   is kept solely for curiosity, display or ornamental purposes; and

3. (c)

   is not used to fire projectiles; and

4. (d)

   —

   1. (i)

      in the case of a firearm other than a class H firearm—

      1. (A)

         is designed to fire breech loading cartridges and is not a firearm for which live rounds of ammunition are commercially manufactured factory loaded; or

      2. (B)

         is not designed to fire breech loading cartridges; or

   2. (ii)

      in the case of a class H firearm—is a handgun designed or altered to fire by means of a flintlock, matchlock, wheel-lock or other system used prior to the use of percussion caps as a means of ignition,

and includes a receiver of such a firearm;

automatic firearm means a firearm that is designed to fire a round when the trigger is brought to the firing position and to continue to fire one or more rounds automatically while the trigger is held in that position;

capacity…