A CLAY target shooter found with two unsecured guns and an illegal silencer in his garage had a firearm licence review denied by the Civil and Administrative Tribunal a month before he could apply to have it reinstated.
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Noel Edlington, 79, was charged with two counts of common assault in December 2017 when it was alleged he tried to run over licensees of his Winton property on his quad bike, twice.
At the time, Edlington told police there was a cord wrapped around the accelerator and he was "not trying to run them down".
The assault charges were later withdrawn, but an Apprehended Violence Order against him meant his licence was automatically suspended.
His firearms had to be surrendered to police.
But, when police went to Edlington's property that day to confiscate his guns they found two 12-gauge shotguns unassembled in unlocked cases in view of anyone who went to the garage.
Inside his gun safe, police found a second container bolted shut with an illegal silencer inside.
Edlington, who got his first gun licence in 1999 and became an approved Firearms Safety Training Instructor a decade later, told police he didn't know what the silencer was.
Police charged Edlington with not keeping the firearm safely and possession of a prohibited weapon without a permit.
In May 2018, he appeared in Tamworth Local Court and entered into two good behaviour bonds for the gun charges and no conviction was recorded.
The AVO was revoked the same day and Edlington's good behaviour bonds were due to expire in May 2019, when he could apply to have them reinstated.
Edlington told the Tribunal he had a long history of handling firearms safely from age seven and had 71 years without a "blemish or issue".
He loved to pass on his experiences with firearms, especially regarding safety, court documents showed.
He was chairman of the Northern Zone of the NSW Clay Target Association for eight years and argued "a fair bit hinges" on his possession of a firearms licence, including his sport, social interactions and role as a primary producer farmer.
Since the suspension of his licence and seizure of the firearms in December 2017, Edlington argued he had no way to deal with pests on the farm like foxes or rabbits, or to humanely euthanise injured cattle, instead having to rely on the services of a vet.
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The Tribunal found his attitude to gun law compliance was "inexcusably casual" and that while he told it he was sorry for the breaches, he expressed he had done nothing wrong and only regretted the impact it had on his ability to maintain his licence.
Edlington told the Tribunal he needed to have his licence back because he had limited time to enjoy clay target shooting at his age, but the review was denied.
It found while the lack of icence would impact his social life, it was outweighed by a need for public safety. He was eligible to reapply for his gun licence in May.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
