A licensed shooter in South Australia faces up to seven years in prison or a $35,000 fine for providing a Cat A/B rifle to a relative who was also licensed to use it.
Police have reported the 30-year-old Para Hills man for unlawfully supplying a firearm to another person.
They allege he bought the firearm and supplied it to the family member without authority. They say the family member has since left Australia and the firearm cannot be located.
“Unlawfully supplying a firearm to another person has the potential for firearms to fall into the hands of criminals and illegal markets,” a police spokesperson said. “SAPOL will continue efforts to prevent this occurring.”
Under SA’s Firearms Act, it is an offence to sell, give, lend or rent a firearm to anyone who has not been granted a permit to acquire it.
However, in the case of category A and B firearms, someone prosecuted under this part of the Act may be able to successfully defend themselves if they can provide a written agreement between the parties.
The agreement would have to specify how the firearm was to be used, and the loan period could be no more than 10 days.
Police would not elaborate on the reasons the firearm was provided to the relative nor how long it had been in their possession.
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