The offence of Possess Cartridge Ammunition is found in section 124(1) of the Firearms Act 1996. It is a criminal offence that is committed by a person who was found to be in possession of cartridge ammunition despite not being licensed to do so.
Have you been accused of Possess Cartridge Ammunition?
Have you been accused of Possess Cartridge Ammunition?
Police Interview
You have the choice of making a comment or a no comment interview with Police. You should speak with one of our lawyers before you speak with Police. We can advise you on the best course of action for your particular circumstances in a Police interview. The interview is a chance for the Police to elicit information from you and try and get you to make admissions. This will later be used in evidence against you. There is no obligation to speak to Police apart from answering the initial identification questions. You should be polite and friendly but do not provide the Police with information they can use against you.Pleading Not Guilty
It is the Prosecutions role to prove the charges against you beyond reasonable doubt. You are innocent until proven guilty. Perhaps you have a reasonable explanation for why you were in possession of the ammunition or the items were not yours at all. Our lawyers are experts in firearms offences. We can help you fight your case. We regularly appear at contested hearings and know what does and does not work in Court to help you secure a not-guilty verdict.Pleading Guilty
If you are pleading guilty you want to get the fairest and most lenient sentence possible. Our lawyers are expert plea makers. We will tell your personal story to the Court so that they know they are sentencing an interesting, complicated human being, not just a criminal. We can negotiate with Police to ensure that the fairest charges are presented to the Court.Sentencing
Sentencing in the higher courts of Victoria
Sentencing in the Magistrates’ Courts of Victoria
Which court will the case be heard in?
As a summary offence, any summons for this charge will primarily be handled by the Magistrates’ Court.Examples of Possess Cartridge Ammunition
- You used to go hunting with your friends and still have some cartridge ammunition in your bedroom, despite not having a licence or a permit. The police execute a search warrant on your house and find the cartridge ammunition.
Elements of the offence
The prosecution must prove the following beyond reasonable doubt:- The item in question is cartridge ammunition; and
- The accused possessed the cartridge ammunition in question.
According to section 3 of the Firearms Act 1996, ‘cartridge ammunition’ means ammunition having a bullet or other projectile and a priming device fixed to or enclosed in a cartridge case which is composed wholly or partly of material other than paper.
Did the accused possess the cartridge ammunition?
Whether or not the accused was in possession of the cartridge ammunition will depend on the circumstances. The prosecution may be able to point to ‘constructive’ possession if the item was found in the accused’s handbag or their bedroom – it does not have to be on the accused’s person.
Legislation
The legislation for this offence can be found on section 124(1) of the Firearms Act 1996.Defences
Criminal defences that are available are honest and reasonable mistake of belief, necessity, sudden or extraordinary emergency and incorrect factual matrix.Questions in cases like this
- Was the cartridge ammunition actually in your ‘possession’?
- Do you in fact have a permit of licence?
Maximum penalty for section 124(1) of the Firearms Act 1996
The offence of Possess Cartridge Ammunition (section 124(1) of the Firearms Act 1996) carries a fine of 40 penalty units (around $6500) as the highest possible sentence.Case studies related to Possess Cartridge Ammunition
- Trafficking Cannabis and Weapons Possession Charges – CCO
- Sentence Appeal – Robbery, Trafficking, Firearms Offences
Other important resources
- SACStat Higher Courts – Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) : s 124(1) – possess cartridge ammunition
- SAC Statistics – Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) : s 124(1) – possess cartridge ammunition
- GunPolicy.org: Possession of Cartridge Ammunition
- Victoria Police: Storage and Safekeeping Requirements for Firearms
