Author: Jon Ross
Practice area: Firearms Offences
Jon is a Senior Associate at Doogue + George with over 20 years of exclusive criminal defence experience, including serious violent crime and gang-related matters across London's Magistrates' and Crown Courts. His depth of experience in this area means clients receive accurate, considered advice.
View full profile →Jon authored this content and last revised it for accuracy on 5th August 2026.
What is the offence of Ammunition – Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying?
Ammunition – Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying is an offence under section 8 of the Firearms Act 1996 (Vic). It relates to regulatory controls on cartridge ammunition dealt with for collection purposes.
Key points
- Requires proof the accused acquired, disposed of, possessed or carried cartridge ammunition for collection purposes without the appropriate licence.
- Conduct includes buying or selling ammunition as collectors’ items without the proper licence.
- Usual court level: Magistrates’ Court.
The maximum penalty for Ammunition – Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying is 60 penalty units ($12,546) or 12 months imprisonment.
Common defences may include the ammunition belongs to someone else; the ammunition was bought or sold by someone else.
Have you been accused of Ammunition – Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying? If yes, get in touch with us to speak with one of our experienced defence lawyers about how to deal with this allegation.
Police Interview
The police will generally interview you for this offence if they believe they have enough evidence to prove that you either possessed, acquired (i.e. obtained) or carried ammunition without have the required licence. You must think carefully about how to approach this interview as you may fall into the trap of making admissions to having possessed ammunition that was not in fact your own. The police will often asking leading questions in order to encourage you to make admissions.
It is worthwhile remembering that police officers’ main reason for interviewing you is to gather evidence to support their case against you. The police interview is not the time or place where you explain your side of the story and expect that police will drop their case.
A lot of people have one of our lawyers attend the police interview with them because they find the process daunting. By attending the interview with you, our lawyers will make sure you understand what will happen and that your rights are protected.
Any information gathered by police during the interview will appear in the brief of evidence if it is helpful to police.
Pleading Not Guilty
If you believe the police have made a mistake in accusing you of Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying Ammunition, it is important to engage a lawyer at the earliest opportunity, before the police interview if possible. This will ensure you don’t provide the police with information that may help them prove their case against you.
Our lawyers are experienced criminal defence lawyers and will develop a defence strategy for you to increase your prospects of charges being withdrawn or an being found ‘not guilty’. Our lawyers are skilled in looking beyond the police investigation and looking for evidence which the police may have over-looked. The material that exists in the brief of evidence does not always include everything. There may be evidence that points towards your innocence which needs to be preserved.
Pleading Guilty
If there is sufficient evidence to prove the charge of Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying Ammunition, it is important to know which material to provide to the Court in order to get the best possible outcome. It is difficult as a lay person to understand what the Court considers relevant material. That’s where we, as lawyers, can have a great impact on your case.
We have an abundance of experience in firearms cases, so know which factors to tell the Court. Choosing what to say will have the greatest impact on the overall sentence.
Examples of Ammunition – Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying
- You sell ammunition to a ammunition collector without a seller’s licence
Defences
- The ammunition belongs to someone else.
- The ammunition was bought or sold by someone else.
There are other possible defences, depending on the circumstances surrounding the alleged offending. Each matter is unique and requires an individual approach and strategy.
Questions in cases like this
- How do they prove the ammunition belongs to you?
- How can they prove the ammunition was bought or sold by you?
Maximum penalty and court that deals with this charge
The maximum penalty for Ammunition – Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying (s8 of the Firearms Act 1996) is 60 penalty units ($12,546) or 12 months imprisonment.
As this is a summary offence meaning it will be heard by the Magistrates Court.
What can you be sentenced to for this charge?
Possessing cartridge ammunition for the purpose of collections can lead to confiscation, fines, a loss of firearms licence, and potentially prison.
Legislation
The section that covers this offence is section 8 of the Firearms Act 1996.
What is the legal definition of Possessing, Acquiring or Carrying Ammunition?
The legal definition of Ammunition- Possessing, Acquiring, or Carrying is where someone possesses or sells cartridge ammunition for collections without the appropriate licence.
Were you in possession of the ammunition?
Other Important Resources
- SAC Statistics – Firearms Act 1996 (Vic): s 8 – unlicenced person acquire, dispose of, possess or carry cartridge ammunition for collection purposes
- Australian Cartridge Collectors Association
