After months of deliberation, on Tuesday, May 9 the Chief Commissioner of Police announced his decision to classify the Verney-Carron Speedline rifle as a category B firearm.
Member for Eastern Victoria Jeff Bourman called it a commonsense decision.
“The Speedline was categorised as a category B firearm by the Commonwealth authorities in November last year and it was only logical to classify it in the same category on a state level,” he said.
Firearms can be moved to a different category for many reasons, including looks, in defiance of the explicit definitions contained in the Firearms Act. Under the Firearms Act, the Chief Commissioner of Police has the authority to reclassify and move the firearms in certain circumstances without requiring the consent of Parliament or any ministerial approval.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP said “this isn’t about public safety, this isn’t about crime fighting, this is about the rules set for law-abiding shooters not being altered just because someone feels like it”.
