Two Tasmanian men have had their firearm licences cancelled after a rifle was allegedly sold privately and ended up in the hands of an unlicensed woman.
Police allege one licence holder bought the firearm from another licence holder, who claimed it would be transferred through a dealer but instead sold it privately.
Officers later found the loaded .22 rifle unsecured at a home in southern Tasmania.
They say the gun was in the possession of a 31-year-old woman who had a criminal history and no firearms licence.
An 89-year-old man from Latrobe and a 32-year-old man from St Helens have both had their firearm licences cancelled.
Police say the case highlights the risks of ignoring the permit-to-acquire process.
A spokesperson said officers in firearms services are “increasingly” finding firearms being sold privately and unlawfully in Tasmania.
“If you’re thinking of buying or selling a firearm privately in Tasmania – think again,” police said.
“Licence holders have privately sold firearms and provided registration paperwork directly to the buyer, with the expectation the buyer will arrange the transfer through a firearms dealer at a later stage.”
Police said all firearm transactions must go through a registered firearms dealer and the buyer must hold a valid permit to acquire, issued by firearms services.
“The belief among some licence holders that private sales are acceptable, provided paperwork is eventually completed, is wrong,” police added.
