FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. My weapons licence has expired. May I continue to
hold weapons while I apply for a new licence?
A. No. You risk prosecution for unlawful
possession
of the weapon(s) if you continue to
hold weapons
without the appropriate permit or
authority.
Unlicensed weapons in your possession must
immediately be disposed of for safekeeping:
-
to a licensed firearm dealer; or
-
to a person who is the holder of a licence
authorising possession of the same category of
weapon (A person may take possession of a
weapon for safekeeping on a temporary basis
for
not more than 3 months); or
-
to a police station.
Q. My weapons licence has recently expired. Can I
renew my expired licence?
A. No. You must make an application for
renewal of
a licence before the day the licence
expires. You may
wish to lodge an application
for a new licence by
using the online form on the Weapons Licensing
website or by completing a Form 1
‘Application for a
Licence’. Paper applications are
available from
Queensland Police Stations or online.
Q. If I decide to make application for a new licence am I
required to complete a Weapons Act Safety Course?
A. A safety course will NOT be required if your
licence expired within the last 12 months. A person
is considered to have adequate knowledge of a
weapon if within 12 months immediately before the
day the person made the application for the new
licence, the person was a licensee.
Q. My licence has expired and I don’t wish to make an
application for a new licence. Can I sell my weapon(s)?
A. Yes. A weapon may be sold by immediately
arranging delivery to:
-
a licensed dealer who agrees to take the
weapon for consignment sale; or
-
a person who is the holder of a permit to acquire
the weapon(s) and acquires the
weapon(s) through
a licensed dealer or police
station (if the nearest
licensed dealer is more
than 100 km from the
person’s usual place of
residence); or
-
a police station for safekeeping until the sale is
arranged by the owner.
Q. My weapons licence has expired, however, I no
longer wish to possess weapons. How do I lawfully
dispose of weapons in my possession?
A.
Weapons may be disposed of as follows:
- to licensed dealer, armourer, or a police station, for
destruction; or
- to a licensed dealer for consignment sale; or
- to a person who holds a current licence with the same
categories of weapons for safekeeping for a period not
exceeding three months. The weapons MUST be
currently registered; or to a licensed dealer or police
station (not exceeding 90 days) for safekeeping until a
licensed person has obtained the appropriate Permit to
Acquire the weapon(s).
Q. A weapon registered to my firearms licence has
been stolen or lost. Am I required to report this to
police?
A.
Yes. If your weapon has been stolen or lost you must
make immediate arrangements to report the loss to
police.
Q. If I give my weapon(s) to a licensed person for safe
keeping is there any paperwork required?
A. Yes. You are required to provide a letter in writing
signed by the registered owner of the weapon, and the
person to whom the weapon was surrendered. The
letter must include the full name, weapons licence
number and address of the person safekeeping the
weapon(s). Once completed this letter must be sent to
Weapons Licensing via post, email or fax.
Q
.
Can I possess ammunition with an expired licence?
A. No. The Explosives Act 1999 only exempts persons
from the possession of ammunition and their
components if they are the holders of a Weapons
Act licence or other authority under the Explosives
Act 1999.
Q. How do I obtain the appropriate permit to acquire a
weapon?
A. Licence holders can lodge applications for a
Permit to Acquire by using the online form on the
Weapons Licensing website or by completing a Form
28 ‘Application for a Permit to Acquire’. Paper
applications are available from Queensland Police
Stations or online.
Q.
How do I broker a weapon upon receipt of a
Permit to Acquire?
A. Purchased from Licensed Dealer - If the
weapon is
to be purchased from a licensed
dealer, present the
Permit to Acquire to the
dealer.
The licensed dealer:
-
will broker the weapon by ensuring the details
of the weapon are recorded accurately on the
permit; and
-
finalise the Notice of Disposal; and
-
return the Notice of Disposal to Weapons Licensing.
Private Sale - If the weapon is to be acquired
privately from an individual the transaction
MUST be
brokered through a licensed dealer
(or a police
station if a licensed dealer is more
than 100 km away
from your usual place of
residence).
The seller must sign the Notice of Disposal on
the
lower section of the Permit to Acquire. The acquirer
of
the weapon MUST attend the licensed dealer
and
present the Permit to Acquire and the
weapon.
The licensed dealer:
-
will broker the weapon by ensuring the details
of
the weapon are recorded accurately on the
permit;
and
-
finalise the Notice of Disposal; and
-
return the Notice of Disposal to Weapons
Licensing; and
-
may charge a brokerage fee.
In both instances, the top section of the permit
is
retained by the acquirer for record purposes.
Q. My expired firearms licence has been lost, stolen or
destroyed. What am I required to do?
A. Section 22 of the Weapons Act 1990 places the
onus on the licence holder to notify the
Queensland
Police Service immediately if his or
her licence is lost,
stolen or destroyed.
For further information please visit the Weapons
Licensing website
https://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/weaponsLicensing/
Weapons Licensing
GPO Box 892
Brisbane 4001
Phone: (07) 3015 7777
Fax: (07) 3015 7788
Expired Weapons Licence
Information Brochure
Queensland Police Service
