Shooting Gallery resources

There are numerous variables associated with a ‘Shooting Gallery’ and as such each application is assessed individually on the information provided.

A Shooting Gallery Licence provides authority to hold events at various premises. It does not cater for firearms to be utilised at those events. A separate firearms licence is required for such firearms. Firearms may be licensed to an individual Firearms Licence or a Corporate Firearms Licence.

Should your application be approved it may be subject to certain conditions.

Regulation 15 of the Firearms Regulations 1974 stipulates:

The proprietor and any other person having the management or control of a shooting gallery shall:

• cause the several parts of the shooting gallery to be properly put together and securely fixed to the satisfaction of the Commissioner;
• cause every part of the shooting gallery within, along, or towards which it may be intended that any firearm shall be discharged, to be constructed of iron of such strength and thickness as is sufficient to resist any missile or projectile that may be discharged from that firearm and to be maintained at all times in good repair and condition to the satisfaction of the Commissioner;
• cause the shooting gallery to be so constructed that no missile or projectile that may be discharged from the firearms used therein can escape from the shooting gallery, if a firearm at the moment of discharge is pointed towards any target or mark that may be within the shooting gallery;
• cause the shooting gallery at all times when open for public use to be under the management and control of a sufficient number of competent persons;
• cause the letting to hire and use by any person of any firearm in the shooting gallery to be under the management and control of a competent person directly responsible therefor;
• take all reasonable and proper care so as to prevent danger from the use of firearms in the shooting gallery;
• not at any time cause or suffer to be used in a firearm any greater charge than is consistent with safety, and shall cause every firearm, whether loaded or unloaded to be pointed towards the target in the shooting gallery, and shall not suffer any loaded firearm to be taken out of the shooting gallery.

No person hiring or using any firearm in a shooting gallery shall, while the firearm is loaded or being loaded, allow the firearm to be pointed otherwise than towards the target in the shooting gallery and no person shall take any loaded firearm out of the shooting gallery.

No person shall wilfully, improperly, carelessly, or negligently interfere with any person or any firearm let to any person in a shooting gallery or with any shield, fastening, or fitting which secures or contributes to the safe use of firearms therein.

A firearm can be used at a shooting gallery only if it is of not more than .22 calibre and it is:

• an air rifle; or
• a rim fire firearm chambered for ammunition that is no more highly powered than standard long rifle ammunition.

Generally, the following will be required and must be submitted with an application:

• Application for a Shooting Gallery Licence.
• Application for Shooting Gallery Events. 
  The onus is on the proprietor to ensure they have approval to operate at each event.
• Application for a Shooting Gallery Licence Firearms.
• Nominated Persons Application. 
  Required for each person who will have access to or use of the firearm(s).

The provisions of section 11A (1) Firearms Regulations 1974 apply in respect of security storage.

The part of the regulation that refers to "in such other way as is approved" relates to specific situations where circumstances dictate that another form of security, in the opinion of the Commissioner’s delegated officer at the Licensing Enforcement Division, satisfies the criteria by providing secure storage.

Reference is also made to specific matters related to keys left in the cabinet, ammunition storage and method of fixing the cabinet or container to two immovable surfaces.

It is a requirement that an applicant for the issue of a licence or permit provide supporting advice. Click the links or refer to Form 22 Storage Statement (PDF, 220KB) and Form 22 Storage Statement Example (PDF, 1.1MB).

Propellant and Black Powder Storage

Storage of Black powder falls under the Department of Mines and Petroleum. All inquiries should be referred to the Department of Mines and Petroleum.

Storage Security Requirements (Sch. 4)

• Firearms and ammunition are to be stored in a locked cabinet or container that at least meets the specifications described in Schedule 4 or in such other way as is approved.
• A cabinet or container that can be unlocked with a key is to be regarded as unlocked if the key is left in the lock or is otherwise accessible where the cabinet or container is located.
• A magazine is not to contain any ammunition when it is stored.
• Ammunition is not to be stored in a cabinet or container in which a firearm is stored unless the ammunition is in another locked metal container in which no firearm is stored and which is securely affixed so as to prevent its removal from the cabinet or container.
• The requirements of this regulation are in addition to, not instead of, any requirements under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004.

Construction

• Specifications for storage cabinets or containers.
• The cabinet or container is to be constructed of mild steel that is 2 mm thick.
• A joint between 2 faces that is butt welded is to have a continuous weld along the full length of the joint.
• A joint where the edge of one face is folded over the edge of another face is to be stitch welded, with welds of at least 20 mm in length at intervals of not more than 100 mm between welds.
• Spot welding is not to be used on the joints between faces.
• The cabinet or container is to be so designed that no firearm or ammunition within it can be removed from it while it is locked.
• In this clause: 'face' means a side, the top, or the bottom, of the cabinet or container.

Doors

• Doors are to be recessed into the surrounding frame with margins of not more than 4 mm.
• Each edge of the door and door frame is to be internally supported and have a return of at least 10 mm.
• The cabinet or container is to have an internal stop of at least 10 mm against which each edge of the door, other than the hinged edge, closes.
• The supports and stops required by sub clauses (2) and (3) are to be welded at the corners.

Hinging Mechanisms

• Hinge protection is to be provided in such a way that, if the hinges are removed, the door of the cabinet or container remains in place and locked.
• If the hinged edge of the door is not longer than 1 metre, 2 hinges are required on it, and if it is longer than 1 metre, an additional hinge is required for each additional 500 mm or part thereof.
• If 2 hinges are required, the distance between them is to be not less than one-third of the length of the hinged edge.
• If more than 2 hinges are required the distance between adjacent hinges is to be the same and that is also to be the distance from each of the outermost hinges to the nearest end of the hinged edge.
• If a spindle is used instead of hinges, it is to extend the full length of the hinged edge of the door and is to be attached to the door by welds the number and placement of which comply with the requirements of sub clauses (2), (3), and (4) for the number and placement of hinges.
• If, instead of using hinges, the door swings on a spindle or on pivots not extending the full length of the hinged edge of the door, the cabinet or container is to incorporate a return protecting the hinged edge, along its full length, against the use of a jemmy.

Locks and Locking Points

• If the swinging edge of the door is not longer than 500 mm, one lock is required with a locking point half way along that edge.
• If the swinging edge is longer than 500 mm but not longer than 1.5 metres:
  a) 2 locks are required each with a separate locking point along the swinging edge; and
  b) the distance between the 2 locking points is to be not less than one-third of the length of the swinging edge.
• If the swinging edge is longer than 1.5 metres:
  a) for each additional 500 mm or part thereof there is to be an additional lock with a separate locking point along the swinging edge; and
  b) the distance between adjacent locking points is to be the same and that is also to be the distance from each of the outermost locking points to the nearest end of the swinging edge.
• It is sufficient compliance with sub clause (2) if, when the swinging edge is longer than 500 mm but not longer than 1.5 metres, there is one lock with at least 3 separate locking points.
• Each lock is to have a 5 pin mechanism that deadlocks the bolt in the locked position until it is properly unlocked.
• If the locking bolt is designed to be released by a handle or lever, the design is to be such that, if the handle or lever is forcibly removed while the door is locked, the bolt remains in the locked position.
• The cabinet or container is to be fitted with a protective structure to guard against the forcible removal of any lock.
• In this clause: "locking point" means the point at which the bolt locks the door to the cabinet or container, preventing the door from opening; "swinging edge" means the edge of the door opposite the hinged edge.

Anchoring

• The cabinet or container is to be securely anchored from the inside at 2 points on each of 2 separate surfaces to 2 immovable structural surfaces by means of 8 mm x 75 mm masonry fixing bolts or coach screws, as is appropriate.
• At each anchor point the cabinet or container is to be reinforced with a 40 mm x 40 mm x 2 mm metal plate, or a 40 mm x 2 mm metal washer, fitted between the surface of the cabinet or container and the head of the bolt or coach screw.

[Schedule 4 inserted in Gazette 6 Dec 1996 p. 6847-9.]

Statutory Declaration

Under the Firearms Regulations 1974 11A (1),

"a person entitled to possess firearms or ammunition of any kind is to ensure that the firearms or ammunition are stored in accordance with this regulation".

In compliance with this regulation, a Firearms Licence applicant is required to submit a statement detailing their proposed storage facilities to the WA Police Force.

The Form 22 Storage Statement, will form as part of the Firearms Licence application process and the Storage Statement is to be provided on request prior to finalisation of the licence assessment. (See 11A and 11C of the Firearms Regulations 1974).

Failure to comply would result in refusal and/or revocation of Firearms Licences.

Please Note: The Form 22 Storage Statement is to include supporting evidence that adequate and safe storage had been installed i.e. receipt from installer and/or photograph of the cabinet in situ with anchoring and/or fixing points.

More information on specifications for storage cabinets or containers is in Schedule 4 Firearms Regulations 1974 which can be found in the related information section.