Tasmania catches up with re-classification of lever-action shotguns


Tasmania has recategorised lever-action shotguns from Category A to Category B, seven years after signalling it would do so.

From 1 December, lever-action shotguns in the island state will require the owner to have a Category B or D firearms licence, depending on whether the shotgun holds more than five shells in the magazine.

Tasmania Police Firearms Services have contacted dealers around the state to alert them to the changes, and reiterate that the majority of lever-action shotgun owners do not need to do anything as a result of the change. 

“There will be no action needed for 98% of licence holders with a lever action shotgun as they already hold the appropriate licence category. These licence holders will be sent an information letter and a new copy of their firearm’s registration when the classification change occurs,” the letter, seen by Sporting Shooter, says.

“There are a small number of licence holders who will require either a licence change or firearm modification to retain their lever-action shotgun. These licence holders will be directly contacted by Firearms Services to work through the change required.

“The lever-action shotgun classification changes will only affect traditional lever-action design shotguns, the Adler A110 or Winchester 1887 being two examples.

“The changes do not affect ‘lever release’ or self-ejecting manually operated repeater shotgun (SEMOR) designs.”

The information sheet accompanying the letter says people with lever-action shotguns that hold more than five rounds may have the magazine modified to make it Category B compliant, sell or consign the gun to a firearms dealer, or “apply to be granted an exemption to continue to possess the firearm under Section 155(4) of the Firearms Act 1996,” noting that “exemptions may be granted where compelling reasons for continued possession are demonstrated.”

Firearms collectors are advised that as Category D firearms, a lever-action shotgun with more than five rounds must be rendered permanently inoperable if it is to be held on a collector’s licence.

While reclassifying lever-action shotguns was agreed in principle by the various states and territories in 2017, Tasmania only got around to implementing the changes to its Firearms Act in 2023.

In addition to most lever-action shotgun owners being unaffected by the change, the designs have been surpassed in popularity and accessibility by straight-pull, lever-release and button-release designs.

 

 

 


Like it? Share with your friends!

What's Your Reaction?

super super
5
super
fail fail
19
fail
fun fun
16
fun
bad bad
15
bad
hate hate
13
hate
lol lol
10
lol
love love
8
love
omg omg
4
omg
Royce Wilson

Royce is something rare in Australia: A journalist who really likes guns. He has been interested in firearms as long as he can remember, and is particularly interested in military and police firearms from the 19th Century to the present. In addition to historical and collectible firearms, he is also a keen video gamer and has written for several major newspapers and websites on that subject.

0 Comments