New South Wales Consolidated Acts

FIREARMS ACT 1996 - SECT 17A

17A Special provisions relating to category C licences issued for clay target shooting purposes

(1) The Commissioner may issue a category C licence (referred to in this section as a
"special category C licence" ) authorising possession and use of a self-loading or pump action shotgun for the purposes of participating in recognised clay target shooting competitions.

(2) The authority conferred by a special category C licence is subject to the following restrictions--

(a) the shotgun to which the licence relates must not be loaded at any one time with more than 2 rounds,

(b) the shotgun may only be used for shooting at clay targets, and for associated training programs, while on a shooting range that is approved under the regulations.

(3) An applicant for a special category C licence must be a person who, immediately before 15 November 1996--

(a) was in lawful possession of a self-loading or pump action shotgun used for shooting clay targets, and

(b) was a member of a shooting club affiliated with the Australian Clay Target Association.

(4) Alternatively, an applicant must provide, to the Commissioner's satisfaction, a written statement issued on behalf of a shooting club approved by the Commissioner, and which is affiliated with the Australian Clay Target Association (or such other body as may be approved by the Commissioner), to the effect that the applicant--

(a) is a current member of that club, and

(b) because of physical reasons such as lack of strength or dexterity, needs to have a self-loading or pump action shotgun in order to participate in clay target shooting competitions.

(5) A statement under subsection (4) must be supported by such documents as may be required by the Commissioner.

(6) Without limiting the conditions to which a category C licence is subject, a special category C licence issued under this section is subject to the condition that the licensee must, during each compliance period, participate in no less than the number of clay target shooting competitions required by the regulations. A
"compliance period" is each of the consecutive 12-month periods during which the licence is in force, with the first of those periods starting when the licence is issued and subsequent periods starting at the end of the previous compliance period.

(7) For the avoidance of doubt, a special category C licence is a type of category C licence, and any requirements under this Act or regulations that apply to or in respect of a category C licence apply to or in respect of a special category C licence.