Provisions from the Arms Legislation Act 2020 that amend the Arms Act 1983 and take effect from 24 December 2020, introduce new requirements and obligations for Police, firearm licence holders, and health practitioners. These requirements and obligations are about safety. The safety of the firearms licence holder and those around them. The objective of this collective, early intervention approach is to help enable Police to prevent any potential harm caused by the possession and use of firearms in the community.
The changes require:
- Firearms licence applicants to provide details of their health practitioner to Police,
- Police to notify the health practitioner when a licence has been issued, and
- Health practitioners to consider notifying Police if they have reason to believe their patient is a firearms licence holder and their health condition will impact on the safety of the patient or the public, if they have access to, or use of, firearms (s92).
What do I need to do as a licence holder?
What are my obligations as a health practitioner?