Overview of New Federal Import Laws

There has been a lot of confusion resulting from Federal Government changes to firearm import laws via amendments to the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations.

This is the information we have available:

• Lever/Button release and straight-pull shotguns and rimfire rifles are now effectively Category C Firearms. It is unclear if shooters in states where those guns are still legal can apply for import permits.
• Lever/Button release and straight-pull centrefire rifles are now effectively Category D firearms and essentially banned from import.
• Speedloaders, including revolver moon clips and the charger/stripper clips used by vintage military rifles, now require an import permit from the Department of Home Affairs. Dealers cannot import these for sale, and it is not clear at this stage how sports shooters are supposed to apply for this permit.
• Handgun import permits are now issued by the Department of Home Affairs rather than your state firearm registry. Dealers can still import handguns for sale to licensed pistol shooters, but there are no specifics around how the permits will be applied for or operate at this stage.

THE FEDERAL LAWS DO NOT BAN POSSESSION OF ANY FIREARMS, PARTS, ACCESSORIES ETC YOU ALREADY HAVE - THEY ONLY AFFECT NEW IMPORTS OF ITEMS FROM OVERSEAS.

Imports for most “traditional” Category A & B firearms will remain fairly straightforward; the import permits for these are still handled by State Firearm Registries.