Welcome to the NSW Unregistered firearms article page. Everything you need to know about Unregistered firearms according to NSW law - Dated: 01/09/2009
According to NSW Law for the charge of Unregistered firearms,
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:
| 18703 |
Possess unregistered firearm-not prohibited firearm/pistol-T2 |
| 27060 |
Possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm-T2 |
| 27056 |
Possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm-T2 |
| 18704 |
Purchase unregistered firearm-not prohibited firearm/pistol-T2 |
| 27061 |
Purchase unregistered firearm-pistol-T2 |
| 27057 |
Purchase unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm-T2 |
| 27055 |
Sell unregistered firearm-not prohibited firearm/pistol-T2 |
| 27063 |
Sell unregistered firearm-pistol-T2 |
| 27059 |
Sell unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm-T2 |
| 27054 |
Use unregistered firearm-not prohibited firearm/pistol-T2 |
| 27062 |
Use unregistered firearm-pistol-T2 |
| 27058 |
Use unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm-T2 |
According to NSW Law for the charge of Unregistered firearms,
The maximum penalty for the charge of unregistered firearm (Section 36 of the Firearms Act) is 10 years imprisonment if the firearm concerned is a prohibited firearm or pistol, or 5 years imprisonment in any other case.
In NSW, a court can impose any of the following penalties for an 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/use unregistered 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 imprisonment for a period of 2 ½ years.
For first time offenders the likely penalty is a good behaviour bond under section 9 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act for a period of 2 years.
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 sell/purchase unregistered firearm, if heard in the Local Court, is likely to be a fine of $500
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 good behaviour bond with supervision under section 9 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act for a period of 3 years.
To convict you of an unregistered firearm charge, the police must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt:
- You either sold, purchased, possessed or used a firearm.
- At the time, the firearm was not registered.
They will also need to prove that you were the person who committed the unregistered firearm offence.
Possible defences to an unregistered firearm charge include but are not limited to:
This matter is a Table 2 offence which means that the DPP can elect to have the matter dealt with in the District Court. If no election is made it will be dealt with in the Local Court.
Section 10 for an unregistered 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 an unregistered firearm charge: When deciding the amount of a fine for an unregistered 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 an unregistered 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 an 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 an 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 an 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 an 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 an unregistered firearm charge: This is the most serious penalty for the charge of use unlicensed firearm and involves full time detention in a correctional facility. Read more.
