Firearms Amnesty

A General Firearms Amnesty commenced in South Australia on 1 December 2015 and was followed by a National Amnesty which ran until 30 September 2017. SA's new firearms legislation provides for an ongoing General Amnesty in South Australia. The conditions under which this amnesty operates will remain the same as for the previous amnesties.

Throughout these amnesties, SAPOL has been committed to working and partnering with the firearms industry to develop and implement a strong framework that delivers an effective and successful amnesty for the South Australian community.

The aim of the General Firearms Amnesty is to make the community a safer place by removing unwanted, unregistered or illegal firearms, firearm parts, mechanisms, fittings, prohibited firearm accessories, silencers and ammunition from the community, making it harder for guns to fall into the wrong hands.

Members of the public in possession of unwanted, unregistered or illegal firearms, firearm parts, mechanisms, fittings, prohibited firearm accessories, silencers and ammunition are encouraged to hand these in at a participating licensed firearms dealer's premises or to police at any police station during the General Firearms Amnesty without fear of prosecution.

The Amnesty also permits any person holding a current South Australian firearms licence to surrender a firearm to a participating licensed firearms dealer to make an application to register the firearm fee-free or to sell the firearm to the participating licensed firearms dealer.

The Amnesty will not provide protection to any person using or in possession of an illegal firearm or other item for any reason other than for the purpose of surrendering it to a member of the police force or a participating licensed firearms dealer.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Information for persons in possession of an unregistered firearm
• Information for participating dealers (pdf)
• Participating licensed firearms dealer list
• Amnesty Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)
• Amnesty terms (pdf)

PERSON IN POSSESSION OF AN UNREGISTERED FIREARM

Do you have a current firearms licence?

• Yes
• No

Yes, I have a firearms licence and want to make an application to register the firearm

1. Complete a PD315A – Firearms General Amnesty 2015 Surrender Notice
2. Complete a PD306 – Application for a permit to acquire a firearm (fillable forms tips).

1. Attend a participating licensed firearms dealer. The inspecting dealer will endorse the application and forward the form to Firearms Branch for consideration of approval. The firearm/s will be left in safekeeping with the dealer until the firearm/s are approved for acquisition and then taken to a police station by the licensee for verification and to complete the registration process (the licensed person remains solely liable for payment of any fee charged by the participating licensed dealer relative to the storage or safekeeping of a firearm to be registered).
2. For further general information relating to the registration of firearms click here

No, I do not have a firearms licence

1. Attend a participating licensed firearms dealer and surrender the firearm/s at that location.  Alternatively, you can attend a police station to surrender the firearm/s for destruction or de-activation at that location.

Dealing with surrendered items that are not registrable firearms

All items that are not registrable firearms (e.g. firearm parts, ammunition, fittings, mechanisms, prohibited firearm accessories and silencers) can only be accepted for destruction. Following surrender, a participating licensed dealer must deliver these items to South Australia Police.

How do I surrender a firearm or ammunition?

When surrendering a firearm to a participating licensed dealer or to a police station, ensure the firearm is unloaded and where possible, remove the bolt or other method to render the firearm safe. Place the firearm in a gun bag or wrap it in a blanket prior to taking it to a participating licensed dealer or to a police station.  Ammunition can be taken to a participating licensed dealer or to a police station at the same time as the firearm but it should be in a separate bag, box or container.

Note: If information relating to your situation is not included on this page, please contact SAPOL Firearms Branch on 1800 586 945.

SAPOL is partnering with the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) for the Amnesty and participating licensed dealers and members of the community can also direct any enquiries to the SSAA:

Website: www.ssaasa.org.au
Email: senvice@ssaasa.org.au
Phone: 0419 849 452

* List last updated 14 February 2019. Please check back regularly for the latest list.