RAMblings - monartomsrc.org.au

Nov 2014 RAMblings

SSAA Monarto Metallic Silhouette Rifle Club
www.monartomsrc.org.au

News Scouts Committee
The Scout Association will
SSAA (SA) taking over the State Rang- President
At the AGM on Saturday the 8th es under the guidance of Darian Stringer
November 2014 the State Execu- many Range Officers during [email protected]
tive group was chosen by the the period 9th, 10th, 11th Vice President
many Members present. The and 12th of January 2015. Erik C-S
changes are as follows: If you have an RO certificate Secretary
President David H your services are welcome if Peter M
Sen. Vice-president Brendan A you can spare some time [email protected]
Jun. Vice-President Stuart S during this period. Contact Treasurer
Secretary Heather D the President if you wish to Trevor J
Treasurer Tony J help!
Darian S did not apply for the [email protected]
Sen. Vice-president position after Trainers
2 years on the Executive. As we go into the New Year, Committee Members
Monarto Complex there is a lot of work re- Patrick K
The Complex committee has quired as the new legislation Dave B
chosen a new farmer for 2015 surfaces. We will need to Laurie T
after the present lessee leaves hold information sessions for John Jackson
on the 31st December 2014. The all Licensed members to al-
notification procedure must be low you to understand the Postal Address
followed until then. Any arrange- new laws, if any!! PO Box 267
ment with the new farmer will be Our club has adequate train- Seaford SA 5169
notified as soon as possible. ers but Range Officers are Website
The 2015 State Range program always required –so if you www.monartomsrc.org.au
will be finalised shortly by the feel that you have the ability, Club Scorer
Monarto Range Management please let us know so we Name
Committee. can get you trained and Club Firearms Custodian
qualified. Erik C-S

[email protected]

Public Officer
Ian L
Authorised Officers
(Witness transfer of firearms)
Pat K
Dave B
Mal S

A VERY MERRY XMAS TO Reminder
ALL —- AND XMAS SHOOT

14th December 2014

A PROSPEROUS NEW PLEASE NOTE THE NEW ADDRESS FOR MAIL

YEAR IN 2015 THE SECRETARY,
PO BOX 267,
SEAFORD SA 5169

Page 2 RAMblings
SSAA Monarto Metallic Silhouette Rifle Club
MMSRC News
www.monartomsrc.org.au
This photograph indicates a breach of the rules
for Centre-fire on our Ranges. Please note the
two larger holes which are centre-fire projectile
punctures—which is fine, but this is on the 100
metre target line!! Note also one rimfire plug
hole but the one alongside is a ricochet.! Or a
gnome 2 feet in front of the ‘target’
RESPECT YOUR CLUB FACITIES.

This is a Compak or 5 stand layout for shotgun
shooting. Note the clay throwers (traps) are for-
ward of the fire line but located out of the shot fall
or aiming points. The poles represent the shooting
positions for 5 members.

The Traps can be moved after each sequence of
25 targets for each shooter.

This photo shows how one person can move a
concrete bench top with only a dog to help!
All of the benches in the 2 and 3 range shed
are now all fixed in position.

From the President
Your new committee is attempting to bring the Club together but is being frustrated by
lack of routine activity that is required. As President for the next 12 months, please let
me apologise to all of you for the lack of information you have been provided for the re-
newal notices and the lack of the process of renewals under the current climate. Please
feel free to contact me if you have paid but have not received any acknowledgement.
Firearms Branch have been notified of these issues and are working with us to overcome
the problems.

Darian

Page 3 RAMblings
SSAA Monarto Metallic Silhouette Rifle Club
Firearms Report
www.monartomsrc.org.au

.

The Catch phrase of the year!

In South Australia there have been 90 break ins with 300 guns stolen from li-
censed legitimate owners- on one occasion the guns were recovered with 24
hours but they could not be identified because all of the serial numbers had been
ground off and one was already cut down --Lack of security or storage!!

The South Australian society of firearms owners and legislation is much maligned
by the lack of change to the Firearms Act 1977. The current Act has more
amendments than the original document. It is supported by Firearms Regulations
2008, which in turn has been taken as the main stream support for offences be-
ing undertaken for enforcement by Police. Since 2008 there has been instigated
a review of the Act and Regulations which was named the Firearms Legislation
Advisory Group and consisted of many members of Associations and Clubs
throughout South Australia. Submissions from the public and firearms fraternity
were requested and there were 797 submissions presented from interested par-
ties including the anti-gun lobby. Many of these submissions were duplicated with
some 30 issues of common interest. This group was active until mid-year 2012
when the new Legislation was nearing completion. However, a change of Gov-
ernment stalled the process.

A number of the issues raised in the review have been changed to suit the cur-
rent legislation without contravention of the Act or Regulations.

Currently there has been an upsurge in the activity by the Government to imple-
ment a new Firearms Act by the end of 2014. This is considered to be impossible
and unlikely. However the Police Firearms Branch are holding information ses-
sions throughout the State to reinforce the need to comply with the current legis-
lation especially the mental and physical health and safety risks and the method
of compulsory reporting of these matters. A number of outcomes that is of great
assistance is the co-operation from Police Firearms Branch by acknowledgement
that the registry system is obsolete, unreliable and laborious with steps being un-
dertaken to relieve and reduce the time lags involved on the registration, licens-
ing and reporting procedures. The implementation of a 10 day verbal firearm loan
agreement and 28 day written firearm loan is one such welcome outcome.

The installation and operation of the online forms retrieval and submission is ap-
preciated and is operating extremely well but is restricted for some members who
do not have computer systems or are not confident in the concept.

Finally, the matter of variations of firearms legislation between States and the Na-
tional Firearms agreement has hampered many possible resolutions and inter-
pretation of many aspects of the legislation proposed.

Page 4 RAMblings
SSAA Monarto Metallic Silhouette Rifle Club

www.monartomsrc.org.au

Practice Days

The practice days will again be part of the 2015 program which is yet to be final-
ised by the SSAA SA Monarto Range Management Committee.
This will be entirely dependant on the new contracted farmer of the Monarto
Shooting Complex after 1st January 2015

POU 1 requirements.

Below, please see the comment from Firearms Branch re POU 1 method of oper-
ation and the record books issue.

The visitor record sheet adequately covers the requirements
The attendance record sheet also covers the club aspects of recording attend-

ance records.
The Attendance record and the Visitor record sheets should be in a bound

book that cannot have pages added or removed.

Re the club members still requiring POU 1 on their personal firearm licence.
 The members need to complete and submit through their local Police Sta-

tion an application to vary their firearm licence (PD 307)
 They need to produce their current licence or 100 points of ID.
 The PD 307 forms are forwarded to Firearms Branch by the local Police

Station
 On processing at Firearms Branch, a letter is generated and sent to the ap-

plicant to advise them that they are approved to complete the necessary
club training program
 The applicant attends and satisfactorily completes the appropriate training
course with the club trainer
 The trainer sends to Firearms Branch a PD314 form advising of the satisfac-
tory completion of the club course
 Firearms Branch will send the applicant an updated data card and advise
the applicant to go to a government department that can take photographs
and accept payment of the appropriate fee.
 New licence (plastic) forwarded to applicant when processed.

Page 5 RAMblings
SSAA Monarto Metallic Silhouette Rifle Club

www.monartomsrc.org.au

Firearms act 1977 20—Cancellation, variation and suspension of licence

(1) If the Registrar is satisfied that the holder of a licence—
obtained the licence improperly; or (a) has contravened or failed to comply with a provision of
this Act or a condition of the licence; or (b) is, for any reason, not a fit and proper person to hold
the licence; or (c) in the case of a dealer's licence—
(i) has a close associate who is not a fit and proper person to be a close
associate of the holder of such a licence; or (ii) is not primarily responsible for the management
of the business carried on under the licence, the Registrar may, by notice in writing served per-
sonally or by registered post on the holder of the licence, cancel the licence.

21H—Requirement to expel certain persons from firearms clubs

(1) If the controlling body of a recognised firearms club has reasonable cause to believe
that— (a) the actions or behaviour of a member of the club has been such that there is a
threat to the member's own safety or the safety of others associated with the
member's possession or use of a firearm; or (b) a firearms prohibition order applies to a member,
the controlling body must expel the person from membership of the club.
(2) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply— (a) to an interim firearms prohibition order; or
(b) to a firearms prohibition order until the period allowed for an appeal against
the order has expired or, if an appeal has been instituted, until the appeal
lapses or is finally determined.
(3) A person incurs no civil or criminal liability as a result of action taken in good faith in
compliance, or purported compliance, with this section.

21I—Obligation to report

(1) If the controlling body of a recognised firearms club has reasonable cause to suspect
in relation to a member of the club that the member is suffering from a physical or
mental illness or condition, or that other circumstances exist, such that there is a threat
to the member's own safety or the safety of another associated with the member's
possession or use of a firearm, the club must, as soon as practicable after the suspicion
is formed, make a report to the Registrar including—
(a) the name and address of the person the subject of the suspicion; and (b) the suspected threat to
safety and circumstances giving rise to the threat (including the nature of any physical or mental
illness or condition
contributing to the threat).
(2) If a member of a recognised firearms club or a person employed or engaged at the grounds of
a recognised firearms club has reasonable cause to suspect that a person to whom a firearms pro-
hibition order applies has gained or attempted to gain access to
the grounds of the club, the member or person must, as soon as practicable after the
suspicion is formed, report the matter to a police officer.
(3) If a commercial range operator or a person employed or engaged at the range of a
commercial range operator has reasonable cause to suspect that a person to whom a
firearms prohibition order applies has gained or attempted to gain access to the range.