From August 30, category A and B firearms must be stored in a purpose-built gun safe, with a steel thickness of at least 1.6mm. If the safe weighs less than 150kg, it must also be secured to the wall or ground.
The safe must be locked with a ‘sturdy lock’.
Category A firearms include slug guns, 0.22 rifle and shotguns.
Category B covers guns such as centre-fire rifles and lever-action shotguns.
Shepparton divisional firearms officer Leading Senior Constable Dean Lloyd said if firearms owners’ storage did not already comply, they should upgrade soon.
“It’s going to put a lot of pressure on safe manufacturers,” he said.
“But everyone’s pretty conscientious.”
Leading Sen Constable Lloyd said while many gun owners in the area had already made the upgrades, there would be some that had old wooden gun cabinets that were no longer up to standard.
“In the three years that I’ve been conducting inspections, there’s only about a dozen or so that won’t comply,” he said.
“It’s been really pleasing.”
He also asked gun owners to be discreet when accessing their firearms.
“Keep them out of sight as much as possible,” Leading Sen Constable Lloyd said.
“If your gun safe is in your carport, keep the garage door closed when you’re accessing your guns.”
If you own more than 15 firearms, the safe also must be fitted with an audio and visual alarm.
Leading Sen Constable Lloyd also advised firearms licence holders that renewals were taking longer than usual to process.
He said if licence holders had any questions, they could contact the divisional firearms officer at their local police station.
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