Thread: Firearms Safety Authority

Originally Posted by Rushy

This is a bit out of synch with recent posts in this thread but I thought you might be interested in these excerpts from a recent communication from the compliance office of the Firearms Safety Authority.

“Unfortunately with the new regulations recently passed, (15 December 2022), there is now no way that Police or any other entity can give exemptions to the 12 shoot requirement for a B Category Endorsement holder.“

and ……

“if you don’t think you will be able to make 12 shoots in year ending June XXXX it may be that you should consider surrendering your B Endorsement until such time as you can again meet that 12 shoot requirement”.

My view of the last excerpt is that the language is very weak given the absoluteness of the statement in the first excerpt. It makes me think that the writer is encouraging surrender because there is some doubt about the veracity of the first.

@308 I am interested as to whether you replied to the letter you got and if so whether you have had a subsequent response.

It is the Pistol Clubs who grant an exemption from the 12 shoots with a legitimate reason such as illness or injury or suchlike. Not the Police. There are going to be big problems with uneducated Firearms Authority staff mis-interpreting regulations.

Originally Posted by BSA

It is the Pistol Clubs who grant an exemption from the 12 shoots with a legitimate reason such as illness or injury or suchlike. Not the Police. There are going to be big problems with uneducated Firearms Authority staff mis-interpreting regulations.

Please confirm your statement by providing reference to the relevant Act and Regulation.
It's hard to argue the contrary without knowing the specifics of any legislation.

Originally Posted by no1_49er

Please confirm your statement by providing reference to the relevant Act and Regulation.
It's hard to argue the contrary without knowing the specifics of any legislation.

After trawling the Regs I sent an e-mail to PNZ and received this in reply. It clarifies matters clearly...


If a member cannot make the 12, then they need to contact clubs and ranges ASAP, with a reason.

There has never been a dispensation built into the law to allow a person to NOT complete at least 12 activities in a year.

Historically the Police ignored this and gave dispensations based on good reasons.

Now the Police are following the letter of the law.



The likely process from now on will be (this is based on replies seen to date):

· If a member send clubs and ranges a letter asking for dispensation and the reason, as soon as they know they cannot complete the 12.

· The Police will send back a letter indicating they will file the request till the end of the activities year (this being the 1st of July to 30th of June).

· At that stage the club will send in the number completed by the member to clubs and ranges.

· If the member is short of the 12, the Police will send a letter indicating they were short and a reminder they need to complete the 12. The Police will note this against the endorsement on the licence.

· If this happens twice, then the Police may take further action like suspension of the licence pending revocation.



Note: the Police may also decide the situation requires no further action and will not note this against the licence. This is on a case by case basis and will be the Police’s discretion.



Clubs cannot grant leave separate to the process above.

I hope this helps.