Farmer wins right to own second concealable weapon

A gun-toting grazier has been given permission to own a second concealable firearm, so he can protect himself from wild, rogue and feral animals.

A gun-toting grazier has won the right to own a second concealable firearm, so he can protect himself from wild, rogue and feral animals while working on his large property.

Douglas Hammer, who owns Glendillon Station, a 15,378ha cattle property, 50km west of Charters Towers, originally had his gun permit application refused.

Mr Hammer, who has a concealable firearm licence, already owns a category H Walther 9mm calibre concealable firearm and a wide range of rifles and shotguns.

He wanted a second concealable firearm, a .357 calibre revolver, which he told a tribunal was better suited for shooting when he was on horseback.

Mustering of the property’s 2500 head of cattle was done on horseback, as using a motorcycle was unsafe because of dense undergrowth and fallen trees or logs.

Mr Hammer told the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal that some parts of the property could only be accessed on foot or horseback.

The property had feral pigs, wild dogs and “rogue cattle”.

Mr Hammer told how a “feral cow” once charged his horse, with its horn tearing the flap of his saddle, as it tried to cut into the mob of cattle being mustered.

He also told the tribunal that a brown snake once struck at his horse.

One of his employees also had an encounter with a feral cow, when he chased it out of the mustered mob of cattle. The feral cow ran out of breath, then bailed up and charged at the worker and his horse.

Mr Hammer told how he accidentally depressed the ­trigger of the Walther while he was trying to remain on an ­“extremely uncooperative” young horse.

The semiautomatic firearm went off unintentionally.

Carrying a rifle by slinging it over his shoulder was cumbersome and dangerous, particularly when riding a horse through the dense scrub, the tribunal heard.

Mr Hammer said it would be far more secure, efficient and safer to use a .357 revolver for the humane eradication of feral pests and animals and maimed and dying livestock.

Mr Hammer had sought a tribunal review of Queensland Police Service weapons licensing branch’s decision last year to refuse his application for the second category H firearm.

A tribunal member found that he could carry out his business as a grazier and primary producer more effectively and safer with a concealable firearm, rather than a rifle or similar category firearm.

“I accept there is a genuine occupational requirement for the applicant to possess the concealable firearm he seeks to acquire,” the member said.

On August 7, the member set aside the previous police ­decision.