Plan B Forum

THE ACT has both the lowest rate of licensed firearms owners and the lowest rate of registered firearms per capita in the country, with 17,202 firearms registered and about 5800 registered licence holders.

''Some [of those] have no firearms but a lot of people may have seven or eight because they shoot recreationally and they also shoot in club competitions,'' Sergeant Brett Cunningham, the Deputy Firearms Registrar said.

He said registered firearm owners were generally very good at playing by the rules when it came to keeping their weapons registered and stored correctly.

''The possession of their firearms is something most of them regard as a privilege, not a right,'' he said, but noted that some were not up to date with storage legislation.

''Safe storage has changed over the years - it used to be you could store them in an old clothing cabinet, now you must have a hardwood safe or metal safe.

''Some of the old-time firearms owners still have the old brown-built cupboards, so we send our inspectors out to have a look and we advise them that's no longer appropriate.''

Crime statistics reflect the low number of firearms, with fewer than 20 reported stolen each year since 2000.

The number of offences in which a firearm was involved dropped from 70 in 2008 to 46 in 2012.

The biggest decline was in the robbery category, with an 80 per cent decrease in 2012.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-new ... z2V0gXscGI

Each such individual is required to keep his army-issued personal weapon (the 5.56x45mm Sig 550 rifle for enlisted personnel and/or the 9mm SIG-Sauer P220 semi-automatic pistol for officers, military police, medical and postal personnel) at home or (as of 2010) in the local armoury (Zeughaus). Up until October 2007, a specified personal retention quantity of government-issued personal ammunition (50 rounds 5.56 mm / 48 rounds 9mm) was issued as well, which was sealed and inspected regularly to ensure that no unauthorized use had taken place.[4] The ammunition was intended for use while traveling to the army barracks in case of invasion.