Australian Capital Territory
Prohibited Weapons (Noise Suppression Devices) Declaration 2017 (No 3)
Disallowable instrument DI2017-219
made under the  
Prohibited Weapons Act 1996, s 4L (Prohibited articles and weapons declarations by registrar)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Section 4L (1) (c) of the Prohibited Weapons Act 1996 (the Act) permits the Registrar of Firearms to declare that something is not a prohibited article.  Schedule 2 of the Act defines a prohibited article as including ‘an article or device intended for use to muffle, reduce or stop the noise created by firing a firearm’.  These devices are commonly known as noise suppression devices.

In certain circumstances, the use of noise suppression devices fitted to firearms in strictly controlled circumstances is reasonable and necessary.

The circumstances that this instrument declares that the use of a noise suppression device is reasonable and necessary are where:
•	people are authorised to undertake animal management activities for the ACT Government; and
•	firearms dealers, who are also licensed to manufacture firearms or noise suppression devices, and need to undertake quality controls, such as test firing, during the manufacturing process; and
•	employees of the CSIRO are undertaking an expedition to collect museum specimens.

This instrument prescribes the requirements to be met for a noise suppression device to not constitute a prohibited article under the Act.