Noosa police have been handed a pistol secreted within an old book following the introduction of weapons amnesty on 1 July.
From 1 July 2021, new legislation provides the public with an opportunity to register or surrender previously unregistered firearms without fear of prosecution while delivering the firearm to an approved licensed dealer or police station.
All states and territories firearms registries’ have agreed to be involved in an ongoing national firearms amnesty and the Queensland Government has passed legislation to allow this.
A man dropped into the Noosa Heads Police station this week and handed police a MAB Martian Commercial 6.35mm semi-automatic pistol hidden within an old book.
He advised the weapon belonged to his deceased brother who returned to Australia with the pistol after the Second World War.
Police strongly encouraged anyone wishing to simply surrender firearms to do so by attending their local police station.
Those that may wish to register a firearm that has not previously been registered against a weapons’ licence can do so by taking the firearm to a licensed dealer approved to participate in the national firearms’ amnesty by the Queensland Police Commissioner.
A list of approved licensed dealers can be found on the QPS webpage.
Owners are required to contact the approved licensed dealer or police station before attending to arrange for the surrender of the firearm.
If you wish to register a firearm to a current Queensland Firearms Licence, you may be able to register the firearm (subject to licence conditions) by making an application for a Permit to Acquire (PTA) once it is registered with an approved licensed dealer.
For additional information, search the Queensland Police Service Website – Firearms Amnesty for frequently asked questions.
