GUN LAWS -- AUSTRALIA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: A. Johnson ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In Australia the laws vary dramatically from state to state. Common rules: Full auto weapons are illegal. Tracer, AP, explosive, or canister ammunition are illegal. Weapons designed to fire the last 3 are illegal. (eg M79 40mm grenade launcher, CS grenades, riot guns ...) There is no such thing as an "open carry" permit, except for security guards. Carriage of a firearm concealed is an offence (except for security guards). You can't import a semi-auto weapon with a magazine capacity > 5 rounds and/or a pistol grip stock unless you do a lot of paperwork (eg IPSC shooter being sponsered by a club) You can't build a semi-/full auto weapon unless expressly authorised to do so by the Government. (they closed down all the factories doing this except the Government owned one last year) All states require gun owners to be licenced - a basic written safety test. Some states are bringing in stricter licence tests involving some instruction and assesment, and requiringyou to have "reasonable cause" to need to obtain a licence in each class you say you need to ... (see below for the classes - roughly) Most states let you buy anything legal (except "pistols ") on production of the valid class of licence). Pistols usually need a permit to purchase, and a 14 day waiting period as well. Specifics: 2 states (Queensland and Tasmania) do not register firearms, and production of ID as proof of age is all that is needed. (if they suspect your age) In those that do - weapons are categorised in 4 classes (usually). A: air rifles and 0.22 (or smaller) rimfires B: shotguns C: Handguns (anything potentially < 80cm long) D: Other firearms. some states have an E. for "military style semi-auto" as well, some class this as D, and 1 state has banned them alltogether. C and E licences require you attend an approved safety course at an approved club and fire at least once per month. They also cost more. These courses take 12 months - and you must complete it before you can get a permit to purchase. Some states restrict the ammo you can buy to the weapons you are registered to own. C & E licences cost a lot more too ... Thats the rules :-( Roughly. And you get some weird stuff. Like folding stock assault rifles being registerd as pistols because they are under 80cm long , and thus legal in a state in which they same weapon with a fixed stock would be illegal. And I know of someone who took advantage of a very dumb policeman when they registered their semi-auto AK47 as a bolt action Kalashnivov :-)