Inquest into the death of GH

Case Number: 2017/127266

Date of Findings: 27 May 2022

Magistrate: Deputy State Coroner, Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman

Catchwords: CORONIAL LAW – unlicensed shooters, try shooting course, P650 forms, Firearms Registry oversight; notification procedures; risk of harm to self or others; clauses 101 and 104 of Firearms Regulation 2017 

Responses

Recommendations

To the Commissioner of the NSW Police Force:

1. That the Proposed Recommendations of this inquest, being Proposed Recommendation 1a, 1b and 2, as set out below, in addition to the Reasons for Decision of this Inquest, be referred to the Review of the Firearms Registry being conducted by former NSW Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, for consideration by that Review. It is noted that the Review was announced by the NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Police on 3 May 2022, to ensure that processes around licencing of firearms are robust timely and efficient.
   
   Proposed recommendations for consideration by Review
   
   Proposed Recommendation 1a: That the Commissioner of Police give consideration to developing, and maintaining at the Firearms Registry, an alert system linking pieces of intelligence received by shooting clubs; and
   
   Proposed Recommendation 1b: That the Commissioner of Police in its consideration of whether an alert system be developed and maintained, also consider whether amendments to clause 101 and 104 of the Firearms Regulation 2017 may be required, particularly in relation to unlicenced persons who are not club members or proposed club members, who are applying to use club firearms for try shooting.
2. The Commissioner of Police give consideration to imposing the following condition on all approved shooting ranges that permit unlicensed persons to handle or use firearms pursuant to s. 6B of the Firearms Act 1996: (a)Unlicensed possession and use of pistols pursuant to section 6B(1)(a) of the Firearms Act 1996 and clause 129 of the Firearms Regulation 2017 is not permitted at the shooting range unless the pistol is securely tethered in such a manner that prevents the pistol from being turned to the rear or any direction other than towards the designated target area. (b)Compliance with condition (a) above may be dispensed with in circumstances where the range official is satisfied that the unlicensed shooter is a member of an approved pistol club and has successfully completed an approved firearms (pistol) safety training course conducted by an approved pistol club.