South Australian Current Acts

FIREARMS ACT 2015 - SECT 29

29—Registered firearms to have identifying marks

        (1)         A firearm that is required to be registered under this Act must have an identifying mark that complies with the requirements of this section.

        (2)         The identifying mark for a firearm must comply with the following:

            (a)         the mark must consist of a number, or a combination of a number and a letter or letters, that is of at least 4 characters and unique to the firearm;

            (b)         the mark must be stamped or engraved into part of the metal structure of the firearm on the outside surface of the firearm where it can be easily seen and, if possible, on the receiver of the firearm;

            (c)         the characters must be at least 2 millimetres in height and must be stamped to form an indentation to a depth, or be engraved to a depth, of at least 0.5 millimetres.

        (3)         However, a firearm will be taken to have an identifying mark that complies with the requirements of this section if the firearm is identified in some other way approved by the Registrar.

        (4)         If a firearm that is produced for registration does not have an identifying mark as required under this section, the Registrar must give directions as to the form of the identifying mark for the firearm and the owner of the firearm must produce the firearm to a police officer within 14 days with an identifying mark in compliance with the Registrar's directions.

Maximum penalty:

            (a)         if the firearm is a prescribed firearm—$20 000 or imprisonment for 4 years;

            (b)         if the firearm is a category C, D or H firearm—$10 000 or imprisonment for 2 years;

            (c)         if the firearm is any other category of firearm—$5 000 or imprisonment for 1 year.

        (5)         A person is guilty of an offence if the person—

            (a)         defaces, alters or removes the identifying mark of a firearm without the authority of the Registrar; or

            (b)         has possession of a firearm that does not have an identifying mark as required under this section.

Maximum penalty:

            (a)         if the firearm is a prescribed firearm—$50 000 or imprisonment for 10 years;

            (b)         if the firearm is a category C, D or H firearm—$35 000 or imprisonment for 7 years;

            (c)         if the firearm is any other category of firearm—$20 000 or imprisonment for 4 years.

        (6)         For the purposes of this Act, a firearm does not have an identifying mark as required under this section if the identifying mark has been defaced, altered or removed without the authority of the Registrar.