Fail to Ensure Ammunition is Secure

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.

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Jon authored this content and last revised it for accuracy on 5th August 2026.

What is the offence of Fail to Ensure Ammunition is Secure?

This offence under s 126(4) of the Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) regulates responsibility for cartridge ammunition in everyday use. It is concerned with maintaining proper control over ammunition so that public safety risks, loss, or theft are avoided. The focus is on conduct rather than outcomes.

Key points

Legal focus: Control and responsibility over cartridge ammunition
Relevant conduct: How ammunition is handled, carried, or supervised
Court: Magistrates’ Court

The maximum penalty for this offence is 60 penalty units ($12,546.00 — as at 2026–27) or 12 months’ imprisonment.

Common defences may include honest and reasonable mistake of fact, necessity, sudden or extraordinary emergency, or a failure to establish the offence elements.

Have you been accused of Fail to Ensure Ammunition is Carried/Used in a Secure Manner and is Not Lost/Stolen?

Police Interview

People mistakenly believe that if they tell the Police their side of the story that the matter will simply go away. That is not the case at all. A Police interview is designed to elicit admissions or a version of event from you which locks you in. Before going to any interview about Fail to Ensure Ammunition is Carried/Used in a Secure Manner and is Not Lost/Stolen, you should speak with one of our expert lawyers about what to expect.

Pleading Not Guilty

We understand that many allegations are untrue. If you want to fight the charge against you, we can conduct our own investigation and carefully examine the Police brief of evidence.

We will meticulously examine the prosecution brief of evidence and look for flaws which may undermine their case against you.

Pleading Guilty

If you want to plead guilty to the charge of Fail to Ensure Ammunition is Carried/Used in a Secure Manner and is Not Lost/Stolen, we can work with you to prepare for the best possible outcome. We will advise you of all the implications this charge may have, such as on your firearms licence.

There is a lot of preparation for a plea hearing, including possible medical reports and character references. We work closely with you to understand your background so we can best present your story to the court in a plea hearing. This preparation helps to achieve the best possible sentence.

Which court will the case be heard in?

As a summary offence, any summons for this charge will be normally heard by the Magistrates’ Court.

What is the legal definition of Fail to Ensure Ammunition is Carried/Used in a Secure Manner and is Not Lost/Stolen?

The legal definition of this offence is ensuring that cartridge ammunition, when being carried or used, is carried and used in a manner that is secure and not dangerous, and taking reasonable precautions to ensure that it is not lost or stolen.

Examples of Fail to Ensure Ammunition is Carried/Used in a Secure Manner and is Not Lost/Stolen

You are going on a hunting trip with your friends and decide to take the train. You get distracted and leave the ammunition on the train, and someone else takes it.
You are going hunting, and you put the cartridge ammunition in a bag with a hole in it. It falls out.
You leave your gun and your ammunition the backseat of your car, and they are visible through the window. Someone breaks the window and takes both.

Legislation

The legislation for this offence can be found on section 126(4) of the Firearms Act 1996.

Elements of the offence

The prosecution must prove the following beyond reasonable doubt:

The accused carried or used cartridge ammunition; and

There may be a dispute over who was carrying or using the cartridge ammunition, or whether it actually was cartridge ammunition, or something else.

The accused carried or used the cartridge ammunition in a manner that was not secure and dangerous; or

Was the manner in which the ammunition was used or carried ‘dangerous’? If someone was hurt, the prosecution will argue that the manner was dangerous.

In the case where cartridge ammunition is lost or stolen, that the accused did not take reasonable precautions to ensure that the cartridge ammunition was not lost or stolen.

There may be a dispute over what constitutes ‘reasonable precautions’. Leaving ammunition unattended in a public place would probably not be a reasonable precaution. However, leaving it locked inside one’s home would probably be. It will depend on the circumstances.

Defences

Criminal defences that are available are honest and reasonable mistake of belief, necessity, sudden or extraordinary emergency, concept of beyond reasonable doubt, and incorrect factual matrix.

If you have been charged with this offence, it is important that you see a lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will assess your circumstances and discuss the options available to you. They will give a recommendation as to whether you should make a guilty plea or challenge the charge in court.

Often people do plead guilty to charges such as this. If you intend to plead guilty then you should discuss this with your lawyer. Organising your material and presenting your case well in Court will have a substantial impact on the outcome of your case.

Questions in cases like this

Did you actually carry/use the ammunition in a ‘dangerous’ way?
What sort of precautions did you take to ensure the ammunition was not lost? Were they precautions that a reasonable person in your situation would have taken?

Maximum penalty for section 126(4) of the Firearms Act 1996

The offence of Fail to Ensure Ammunition is Carried/Used in a Secure Manner and is Not Lost/Stolen (s126(4) of the Firearms Act 1996) carries a maximum fine of 60 penalty units ($12,546.00 — as at 2026–27) or 12 months imprisonment as a penalty. The sentence received depends on the circumstances of the case. Obviously the circumstances of the case will matter enormously as to whether a penalty would be in the upper end of the sentencing range.

Other important resources

Frequently asked questions

When does handling ammunition become a criminal offence?

Handling ammunition becomes an offence when it is carried or used without adequate control, or where reasonable steps are not taken to prevent it from being lost or stolen. The assessment depends on the circumstances and whether the conduct created an unacceptable safety or security risk.

Does the offence apply outside the home?

Yes. The offence applies whenever ammunition is being carried or used, regardless of location. Public settings may attract closer scrutiny because unsecured ammunition can pose greater safety and security risks in those environments.

Is intent required to be found guilty?

The offence does not require proof that a person intended harm or loss. The issue is whether the ammunition was controlled appropriately and whether reasonable precautions were taken in the circumstances.

How does the court assess whether precautions were reasonable?

The court considers what steps were taken to secure the ammunition and compares them to what an ordinary, careful person would have done in the same situation. Factors include accessibility, supervision, and the likelihood of loss or theft.

Can this charge be laid together with other firearms offences?

Yes. This offence can arise alongside other charges relating to firearms or ammunition, depending on the facts. Each charge is assessed separately based on its specific legal elements.

Is this offence considered summary or indictable?

This offence is dealt with as a summary offence and is ordinarily heard in the Magistrates’ Court. It does not proceed to higher courts unless required by law.