Police “Jumping the Gun” on the Adler A110: Confiscation Without Compensation

COAG's reclassification of the Adler A110 lever-action shotgun hasn't been ratified into law yet, but some police officers in New South Wales are "jumping the gun".

Robert Borsak MLC

Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party M􀀁C Robert Borsak called out the New South Police for
'jumping the gun' on the Adler A110 as some of their officers have begun enforcing the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) reclassification of the firearm before the agreement has been ratified in state legislation.

"I have received reports from constituents in south-western New South Wales that local Police officers have begun attempting to confiscate five-shot and seven-shot Adler A110 lever-action shotguns," Mr Borsak said.

"This comes after the COAG agreed to reclassify lever-action shotguns with a capacity above five-shots to Category D.

"The Baird Government has not indicated that compensation will be provided for firearms lawfully purchased or modified under existing law.

"Unfortunately, this is part and parcel of a constant issue that I come across: many people in the media, and sometimes the Police Force, do not understand firearms laws, and tend to jump to conclusions and exceed their brief.

"COAG's decision still needs to be ratified by Parliament, and is therefore not currently in force.  I have not been informed by the Baird Government of any other reason why this should not be the case.

Mr Borsak said that when the time comes for ratifying COAG's classification changes that he would be doing everything in his power to stand up for the rights of licenced, law-abiding firearms owners.

"This Adler A110 reclassification sets a dangerous precedent.  What it says to Governments is that they can ban or curtail any activity they wish so long as there is an effective scare campaign.

"The Government's own advice that I have obtained under Freedom of Information laws shows that lever-action firearms are not a threat to society or a terrorism risk.

"The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party will fight these sorts of ill-informed, knee-jerk changes right to the very end," he said.


Read Robert Borsak's press release here.