Firearms amnesty

General firearms amnesty

The Firearms Act 2015 provides a general amnesty to enable persons to surrender any unauthorised or unwanted firearm, part or ammunition to a police station or a participating licensed dealer.

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,  sound moderators and ammunition from the community, making it harder for guns to fall into the wrong hands.

Persons in possession of unwanted, unregistered or illegal firearms, firearm parts, mechanisms, fittings, prohibited firearm accessories, sound moderators and ammunition are encouraged to hand these in at a participating licensed firearms dealer's premises or to police at any police station without fear of prosecution.

Compensation is not offered for firearms surrendered through the amnesty.

The protection of the amnesty is only available if a person takes the unauthorised or illegal firearm or other item to a police station or participating licensed firearms dealer and surrenders it.

The amnesty does not apply for persons who maintain possession of an unauthorised or illegal firearm or other item. Police will investigate any surrendered firearm recorded as stolen property or suspected of being involved in a crime.

Any person surrendering an unauthorised firearm or other unauthorised item for destruction may do so anonymously.

The amnesty permits licensed persons to make application to register an unregistered firearm. The surrendering person must hold a current South Australian firearms licence and to make an application to register the firearm, provided their firearms licence permits possession of that category firearm. Firearms Branch does not charge registration fees in this process. Be aware, this relates to registerable firearms only, not parts, ammunitions or accessories. This process is only available through participating firearms dealers, not through police stations.

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

Any firearm located as part of a deceased estate may be surrendered as part of the amnesty, but other conditions do apply to these items. Please contact Firearms Branch for more details.

How to surrender an unauthorised firearms or other items

• Ensure the firearm is ‘made safe’ being unloaded and if possible, the bolt removed.
• *Gel blaster firearms must have batteries and accessories removed.
• Place the firearm in a firearm bag or other concealing item to prevent alarm.
• Other items, such as ammunition, may be surrendered at the same time, but brought in a separate bag / container.
• During daylight hours
  • Attend a police station and complete a PD315 Surrender Notice or
  • Attend a participating firearms dealer and complete a PD315A Surrender Notice.
• Any item surrendered to a police station or without application for registration through a dealer will be destroyed.

How to surrender an unauthorised firearm for registration

• Ensure the person’s firearms licence permits possession of that category firearm.
• Ensure the firearm is ‘made safe’ being unloaded and if possible, the bolt removed.
• Place the firearm in a firearm bag or concealed to prevent alarm.
• During daylight hours attend a participating firearms dealer and complete a
  • PD315A Surrender Notice and a
  • PD306 Application for a permit to acquire a firearm
  • Include a genuine need for the possession of that firearm.
• The participating dealer will
  • Hold the firearm for safe keeping
  • The surrendering person is liable for any dealer fees acquired
  • SAPOL do not charge registration fees for this process.
• This process is not available at police stations.

Disposal of Gel Blaster Firearms

A person can surrender their gel blaster firearms to a police station or a participating firearms dealer under the following conditions:

• magazine removed and empty
• battery removed
• stock removed (if possible, the battery is often housed in the stock)
• gel blaster firearms should be carried in a bag or cover to prevent causing concern.

SAPOL will not accept gel blaster firearm accessories including:

• batteries - they are generic, rechargeable and multipurpose
• battery chargers
• scopes, sights, imitation silencers, muzzle brakes, slings
• fore grips, bipods, tripods
• gel balls
• goggles or protective clothing
• torches.

Note: If information relating to your situation is not included on this page, please contact SAPOL Firearms Branch on 7322 3346 or email SAPOL.FirearmsBranch@police.sa.gov.au

Participating Licensed Firearms Dealers