eKourier April 2019

FEATURE

AIMING OUR SIGHTS ON GUN STORAGE IN A

As published in the SSAA Insider Magazine

ments located in a storage facility.

Additionally, there has been a renewed emphasis on specific Gun Storage requirements for Category A, B, C, D, H & R firearms and their storage.

WHAT ARE FIREARM CATAGORIES?

Category A : Air rifles, blank firearms at least 75cm in length, a shotgun other than a pump action. Category B : Muzzle loading firearms, single shot, double barrel and repeating centre rifle. Category C: Semi-automatic rim-fire rifle, a pump action shotgun.

Category D : Self-loading centre-fire rifle.

Category H : Air pistol and blank firearm under 75cm in length.

Category R : Machine gun or sub-machine gun fully automatic.

GUN LOCKER CONSTRUCTION

For all these firearm categories a Storage Locker must be of a rigid structure and made of either solid steel or solid timber. Rigid structure refers to the strength of the container and the use of reasonable force to the sides or top of the container should not result in deflections of any panel or the Gun Locker itself. Lockers are required to have continuous locker panels e.g. without venting/holes or perforation. The Gun Locker must be constructed of either steel (aluminium/ alloys are not compliant) or can even be solid timber. It is interesting to note that certain species of timber or structural and Marine Ply are compliant. However, Chipboard, Particle Board, MDF and Plaster Board are not compliant to the Act. If the Gun Locker used for storing these firearms weighs less than 150kg, it must be securely fixed to the frame or floor of a permanent building. The Locker itself must have a sturdy combination lock, keyed lock or keyed padlock.

Firearms Licensing and Permits differ depending on the State or Territory of residence of the licence holder. All Firearms Licensing in Australia is under the jurisdiction of the relevant State or Territory Police, and these Licensing Agreements can vary.

R ecent gun crimes over the past 12 months in Victoria has necessitated Kennards Self Storage to change gun room designs and implement new security features. With a continu- ance to be innovative with the gun storage product supplied to the storage industry, and with the added improve- ments in security features implemented during 2018 to minimise any risk of

theft, recent changes to Gun Storage unit designs and layouts have further enhanced our gun storer’s storage experiences. As set out in the Australian Firearms Act 1996 and revised in some States in 2008, there are now specific govern- ment legislative storage requirements for the safekeeping of firearms and cartridge ammunition in gun compart-

10 Kennards Kourier April 2019