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Lionel Rattenbury
Criminal Defence Lawyer


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Firearm Offences - NSW
Welcome to the NSW Possess unlicensed firearm article page. Everything you need to know about Possess unlicensed firearm according to NSW law - Dated: 01/09/2009

What the Law States according to NSW Law for Possess unlicensed firearm
According to NSW Law for the charge of Possess unlicensed firearm,

On the police facts sheet and the court attendance notice that you may have received you will have a reference to the law part and a short description of offence. These references help the court and the legal profession to identify the exact offence you have been charged with. The law part and short description for this offence are set out in the table below:

Law Part Short Description
53111 Possess unauthorised firearm-T2
52814 Use unauthorised firearm-T2

The Maximum Penalty - Possess unlicensed firearm
According to NSW Law for the charge of Possess unlicensed firearm,

The maximum penalty for the charge of possess unlicensed firearm (Section 7A of the Firearms Act) is 5 years imprisonment.

In NSW, a court can impose any of the following penalties for a possess unregistered firearm charge.

You’ll find a brief description of each of these penalties at the bottom of this page.

Likely Penalty

Local Court

Based on our experience and statistics from the Judicial Commission of New South Wales we believe that the penalty in a case that is within the mid range of seriousness for the offence of possess unlicensed firearm, if heard in the Local Court, is likely to be a fine of $400.

For first time offenders the likely penalty is a bond under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act.

District Court

If the matter is finalised in the District Court the likely penalty is a suspended sentence under section 12 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act.

For first time offenders the likely penalty is a good behaviour bond with supervision under section 9 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act for a period of 12 months.

What the Police must prove according to NSW Law for Possess unlicensed firearm

To convict you of a possess unregistered firearm charge, the police must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt:

  1. The firearm was in your possession.
  2. The firearm was unlicensed.

They will also need to prove that you were the person who committed the possess unregistered firearm offence.

Possible Defences under NSW Law - Possess unlicensed firearm

Possible defences to a possess unregistered firearm charge include but are not limited to:

In NSW which court will hear the matter - Possess unlicensed firearm

An offence under this Act or the regulations may be dealt with in a summary manner before a Local Court if the court attendance notice was issued within 2 years of the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.

Section 10 for a possess unlicensed firearm charge: avoiding a criminal record. Normally, when you plead guilty to a criminal offence, the court imposes a penalty and records a conviction. If the court records a conviction, you will have a criminal record. However, if we can convince the court not to convict you, there will be no penalty of any type and no criminal record. In all criminal cases, the court has the discretion not to convict you, but to give you a Section 10 dismissal instead. Read more.

Fines for a possess unlicensed firearm charge: When deciding the amount of a fine for a possess unlicensed firearm charge the magistrate or judge should consider your financial situation and your ability to pay any fine they set.Read more.

Good behaviour bond for a possess unlicensed firearm charge: This is an order of the court that requires you to be of good behaviour for a specified period of time. The court will impose conditions that you will have to obey during the term of the good behaviour bond. The maximum duration of a good behaviour bond is five years.Read more.

Community service order for a possess unregistered firearm charge (CSO): This involves either unpaid work in the community at a place specified by probation and parole or attendance at a centre to undertake a course, such as anger management. In order to be eligible for a CSO you have to be assessed by an officer of the probation service as suitable to undertake the order. Read more.

Suspended sentence for a possess unregistered firearm charge: This is a jail sentence that is suspended upon you entering into a good behaviour bond. Provided the terms of the good behaviour bond are obeyed the jail sentence will not come into effect. A suspended sentence is only available for sentences of imprisonment of up to two years. Read more.

Periodic detention for possess unregistered firearm charge (commonly known as weekend detention): This form of imprisonment ceased to be a sentencing option in October 2010.

Intensive correction order for possess unregistered firearm charge (ICO): This option has replaced periodic detention. The court can order you to comply with a number of conditions, such as attending counselling or treatment, not consuming alcohol, complying with a curfew and performing community service. Read more.

Jail for a possess unregistered firearm charge: This is the most serious penalty for the charge of possess unregistered firearm charge and involves full time detention in a correctional facility. Read more.

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