Petition To Have Muzzle Loading Pistols Removed From an H class licence ...

"To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in Parliament assembled".

PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

Parliament House
6 Macquarie Street,
Sydney, NSW 2000.

assembly@parliament.nsw.gov.au

The Petition of Keith H. Burgess.
President of the New England Colonial Living History Group.

Brings to the attention of the House the matter of firearms licensing in relation to muzzle-loading pistols (percussion locks excluded).

At this present time, working replica (replicas of original 17th and 18th century antique muzzle-loading pistols) muzzle-loading pistols of the lock types matchlock, wheellock, tinderlock, doglock, snaphance, and flintlock can only be owned by a person possessing a category H gun licence, and these pistols can only be legally fired on a registered gun range. Antique muzzle-loading pistols of the same type may be owned, but not used/fired without the owner possessing an H class licence. This requirement excludes the use of these antiques & antique replicas for Living History and Historical Re-enactment purposes. It also excludes the use of these antique replicas for use as a back-up safety for muzzle-loader hunters hunting on private property who are hunting with single shot muzzle-loading rifles or smoothbores.

Historical Re-enactment groups and Living History organisations have re-enactment rules which preclude the use of live ammunition and preclude the use of a ramrod during any and all re-enactment displays. There is also a permit requirement; this permit is for historical re-enactment organisations wishing to conduct an historical re-enactment event involving the possession and use of firearms by participants. Clause 61 - Firearms Regulation 2006.

Replicas of muzzle-loading pistols of the lock types mentioned are single shot (though some flintlocks can have two barrels), slow to load and require a good deal of knowledge and training to ensure the workability of this type of gun. Ignition even when used by a competent person can not be guaranteed. Therefore these muzzle-loading guns are not suitable for criminal use.

We fully understand the purpose of the H class licence requirements, but these primitive muzzle-loading pistols are not the same as modern breech-loaders, revolvers or semi-automatics. If a criminal wishes to use a concealable gun to commit a crime, they can simply cut down a modern breech-loading rifle or shotgun.

At present anyone can purchase an antique muzzle-loading pistol without the need to apply for a permit to purchase, a licence or registration. However, they cannot be legally fired/used unless the owner posesses an H class licence. These replica muzzle-loading pistols are no different from the antiques, their workings, capabilities & disabilities are exactly the same.

The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly to change the licensing requirement for these replica antique & antique muzzle-loading pistols (percussion locks excluded) from the present category H class licence to the category B class licence. Alternately we respectfully request that these muzzle-loading pistols be placed on a new less restrictive class of firearms licence , allowing these guns to be used with no more restrictions than are presently placed on muzzle-loading long arms.

Sincerely,

Keith H. Burgess.

Petition Here: https://www.change.org/p/to-the-honourable-the-speaker-and-members-of-the-legislative-assembly-of-new-south-wales-in-parliam-muzzle-loading-pistols-to-be-placed-on-a-less-restrictive-licence