Johnson v Registrar of Firearms

The case of Johnson v Registrar of Firearms [2001] SASC 51 involved an appeal by Trevor Eric Johnson against the decision of the Magistrate to refuse his application to renew a firearms licence. The appeal was heard by Gray J. Mr Johnson had been granted a firearms licence in 1988 and applied for renewal in 1999, following his acquittal on charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent. The Registrar refused the renewal, a decision that was upheld on appeal by the Magistrate. Mr Johnson's application was referred to the Firearms Consultative Committee which endorsed the Registrar's decision, citing Mr Johnson's extensive history of convictions, including those involving firearms and drugs, as grounds for refusal. The court examined whether the Magistrate had erred in endorsing the Registrar's reasons without providing additional reasoning, and whether the decision to refuse the renewal was justified under the Firearms Act 1977 (SA). The court concluded that the decision was appropriate given Mr Johnson's history of offending and that no error had been demonstrated in the Magistrate's endorsement of the Registrar's reasons. The appeal was dismissed.