Qld Weapons Licensing change their policy on so-called "blank PTA's"

[Hornet Driver]

I have been in the process of acquiring a new Permit To Acquire (PTA)in the last month.

There has, in the past, been the ability to obtain what has been referred to as a blank PTA. It is referred to as blank insofar as one was not required to list the dealer through which one was going to purchase the marker or the specific serial number of your intended marker.

This has then meant that you could expect a phone call from Queensland Weapons Licensing to verbally ensure that you were intending on purhcasing the marker from a Queensland dealer, or having the purchase brokered by a Queensland registered dealer.

I have been informed by Weapons Licensing that this is no longer possible.

It is not a major change, but it means that you will now have to decide who you are going to buy your marker through, or line up your broker prior to sending off your PTA paperwork.

For those of us that thought that getting this process started prior to making a decision on whose business we were going to patronise, or which marker was best, we will now have to make those decisions beforehand.

However, as I understand it, they are not taking it to the point of requiring serial numbers prior to issue of the PTA, if you do not or cannot provide that information. I suppose that that is one decent concession.

Please add information to this as you see fit, and as your own experience(s) dictate.

[Sardukarn]

Yes they are cracking down on licencing and PTAs.

I have applied for a PTA for my new A5, only to receive a letter informing me that the conditions of my licence dont allow me to get one for a paintball gun. Now i do have a number of conditions andd classes on my licence and have a SC1 condition that is for sporting clubs - this was perviously recognised as being better than PB1 and allowed me to get a paintball gun on my licence, however now if you dont have a PB1 condition they will not issue a PTA even if you already have markers on your licence.

Short version - i now have to have my conditions changed (28 days, no cost) before they can process my PTA.

Looks like i will be getting my A5 for Xmas instead ...

[SniperWolf]

I have SC1, SC2, RE1 and PC1 and they still required me to have pb1 on the licence before i received mine

[KENNY]

However, as I understand it, they are not taking it to the point of requiring serial numbers prior to issue of the PTA, if you do not or cannot provide that information. I suppose that that is one decent concession.

yeah serial numbers were needed for mine...
anyone know who or what stuck a stick in tha hornets nest @QPolice..??? :hammer:

[Camo]

I can comfirm that, when I was getting my Ion, initally I didn't give the serial or the owners licence number, being told it wasn't needed by the cops at the cop shop,, Couple of weeks later I get a phone call from the weapon registry asking me for the details. I know in my case I was dealing with a private seller, so they required that information, however I was under the impression if you go through a dealer you didn't need a serial number

[Sikosis]

The week before South Pacs, I had Weapons Licensing ring me up to say they've lost my paperwork from 8 months earlier and I had to go to a gunsmith and get them to sign a form and get a JP to sign a stat dec ...

At the same time, a few mates were phoned to have their gun safe/marker locker inspected.

[Hornet Driver]

yeah serial numbers were needed for mine...
anyone know who or what stuck a stick in tha hornets nest @QPolice..??? :hammer:

Kenny, I do believe I spot a pattern here mate.

PM Gav or call the big man and talk to him about his joyous trials and tribulations over the past few months:thumbsdow

It does seem that there is something of a shakedown going on, and I worry that we could be the eventual fall-guys in the scheme, but lets take each new problem as it arises, and watch closely to see if this random change forms the inkling of a bigger picture.

[kinundrum]

I have been in the process of acquiring a new Permit To Acquire (PTA)in the last month.

There has, in the past, been the ability to obtain what has been referred to as a blank PTA. It is referred to as blank insofar as one was not required to list the dealer through which one was going to purchase the marker or the specific serial number of your intended marker.

This has then meant that you could expect a phone call from Queensland Weapons Licensing to verbally ensure that you were intending on purhcasing the marker from a Queensland dealer, or having the purchase brokered by a Queensland registered dealer.

I have been informed by Weapons Licensing that this is no longer possible.

It is not a major change, but it means that you will now have to decide who you are going to buy your marker through, or line up your broker prior to sending off your PTA paperwork.

For those of us that thought that getting this process started prior to making a decision on whose business we were going to patronise, or which marker was best, we will now have to make those decisions beforehand.

However, as I understand it, they are not taking it to the point of requiring serial numbers prior to issue of the PTA, if you do not or cannot provide that information. I suppose that that is one decent concession.

Please add information to this as you see fit, and as your own experience(s) dictate.


this is VERY old news and has been the case for quite some time at least the last 6-12 months. may even be just after the last QLD amnesty!!!


old old old old!

[Hornet Driver]

Um, ok.

I initiated this as I was advised by two seperate sources who have very frequent interaction with Weapons Licensing that it was kosher, and quite commonplace to submit your paperwork without this information added.

I know of at least one close friend who has submitted his PTA in the last 2 months in the "blank" configuration and had it passed with nothing more than a phone call as to check that the dealer/broker was here in Queensland.:confused:

Isn't it funny how subjective the whole process is? Not so much funny ha ha as funny goddamn I wanna twist my own head off because there is no congruity of advice or procedure!!!:no:

[The Camo Kid]

this is VERY old news and has been the case for quite some time at least the last 6-12 months. may even be just after the last QLD amnesty!!!


old old old old!

no its not, put one in recently that was blank and they issued it!!

[Albatross]

Can't say I had any issues getting my ion. I didn't have serial # but I listed Gav as the broker and everything seemed to go smoothly. Think it was only 2+weeks to get it. But I think if I tried to go any higher than 2 markers I'd no doubt run into the red-tape barricade.

[Sardukarn]

this is VERY old news and has been the case for quite some time at least the last 6-12 months. may even be just after the last QLD amnesty!!!


old old old old!

As the Kid said - it is not old news, only 3 months ago blank PTAs where being issued, and 6 months ago SC1 was fine for your licence. However it seems they have had a staff rotation and some new people are now looking after this department. They have been cracking down on a number of minor issues and making sure all is as per the Act and their interpretation.

My understanding is that serial numbers will be needed for getting markers from a private source, and not if you are getting them from a dealer and supply all the dealers details on you application.

Anyway - all this info is for new players joining the best sport.

[Hornet Driver]

Thankyou for all who've posted thus far.

Please continue to do so, as it is an ever-evolving situation, getting your licence and submitting a PTA.

Please continue to add information as it comes to hand.

:thumbsup:

[Duck!]

Just gone through my first PTA process & had no problems.

I even changed my gun details mid-way (after some great advice on this forum) via email & phone without a hitch.

I'm getting my A5 etc from the US so I put 'TBA' in the serial number section.

I got a call from Weapons Licensing at around the 28 days asking what the serial number was. Not knowing if the A5's had a serial number I negotiated my initials and a number eg. 'DD01' & to be engraved if necessary upon delivery & that was ok. If it comes with a serial number I will advise WL of the change later. We'll see if customs are ok with that.

I got my PTA & Import Permit about a week ago - now just waiting on UPS & a call from customs.

[The Camo Kid]

Just gone through my first PTA process & had no problems.

I even changed my gun details mid-way (after some great advice on this forum) via email & phone without a hitch.

I'm getting my A5 etc from the US so I put 'TBA' in the serial number section.

I got a call from Weapons Licensing at around the 28 days asking what the serial number was. Not knowing if the A5's had a serial number I negotiated my initials and a number eg. 'DD01' & to be engraved if necessary upon delivery & that was ok. If it comes with a serial number I will advise WL of the change later. We'll see if customs are ok with that.

I got my PTA & Import Permit about a week ago - now just waiting on UPS & a call from customs.


yeah mate they do, left hand side of the marker just above the front fore grip, cant miss it!!

[Duck!]

Thanx

[Hornet Driver]

After speaking with a couple of good friends and members of this forum, I can inform you burgeoning Queensland paintball players that we do have a voice of strength and that we are being heard.

I cannot give details, simply because there are none to give that are of any consequence, but I can say that those that have been in this game for a long time are speaking in their own, and our defence.

It is getting through apparently.

However, in relation to the original topic of this thread, the interpretation of the Act is the responsibility of the people who staff the branch, and we have to capitulate to that eventually, however it seems that they are willing to listen to reason for the most part. Also, they are willing to listen to those that have a vested interest in maintaining good relations between us and them.

A light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, its not a friggin train.:confused:

[Ben]

I have SC1, SC2, RE1 and PC1 and they still required me to have pb1 on the licence before i received mine

I don't understand what these conditions mean? Are they stated on your license? My license is "in the mail" so i don't really understand what some of the posters in here are talking about with repect to there licenseing conditions. Can someone explain?

[moshoo]

PB1 will be on your license... Its a paintball category only - and one of the conditions is that a your marker must only be used in an approved/certified firing range (a liceneced field)... RE1 - correct me if im wrong - is the recreational licence - for use of small rifle etc... This used to be the category under which paintball markers were issued, however, in Dec 05/Jan 06 PB1 was introduced, exclusively for Paintball.

[moshoo]

^^ Also^^

PC1 - The licensee is authorised to possess and use registered
category H weapons at an approved shooting range.

SC1 - .The licensee is authorised to possess and use registered
category A and B weapons for sports or target shooting at an
approved shooting range.

SC2 - ????

RE1 - The licensee is authorised to possess and use registered
category A and B weapons for recreational shooting on rural
land with the express consent of the owner.

http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/SLS/2004/04SL228.pdf

[Ben]

Ahh so unless i become a member for a "shooters" club like SSAA i have no legit reason to have that category on my license? So I will have PB1 on my ticket... thats ok.

[moshoo]

yup... When we did our course, (nov/dec 05) we were under a RE1, and thats what we applied for... But, they introduced these new PB1`s while we were being processed, and so were one of the first few to get this category!

Ure sorta right - You would need a membership at say SSAA to get an SC1 licence.... Or if you had a rural proerty, or permission from someone who has a propoerty, you would be entitled to RE1.

[Ben]

yup, ok ive got my head around it now. cheers.