Big game shooter allegedly sold gun parts illegally in country NSW
Registered gun dealer Bruce Bull, who has a passion for big game hunting in Africa, allegedly sold gun parts unlawfully on three separate occasions in Bathurst last March.
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A big game shooter who has posed next to a series of prone animals including an elephant is accused of illegally selling gun parts three times in country NSW, a court has been told.
Registered gun dealer Bruce Bull, of Maroochydore in Queensland, was mentioned in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday after being charged with unlawfully selling firearm parts in Bathurst last March.
The 65-year-old was arrested by NSW Strike Force Raptor detectives and Queensland police at his gun shop and shooting range near Gympie three weeks ago but did not appear in the courtroom.
Police allege in court documents Mr Bull sold firearm parts on three separate occasions to two people who were unlicensed in Bathurst.
Officers will allege in court Mr Bull had attended a gun show in the central tablelands city and sold gun parts without requesting to see a firearms licence while trading at the fair.
The parts Bull allegedly sold while in NSW included a cylinder, trigger mechanism and handle for a Ruger Security-Six revolver as well as a barrel for a shotgun, according to the documents.
In court, defence lawyer Angelo Bilias asked for an adjournment so a brief of evidence could be served on his Mr Bull, who is yet to enter a plea.
Magistrate Tim Keady adjourned Mr Bull’s case until next month and excused him attending due to COVID-19.
“Given the viral problem I‘ll excuse his attendance (if he’s legally represented),” the magistrate said.
Mr Bull’s gun business Wattle Grove Park has a website with a photo gallery of his hunting safari to Africa with his wife.
In them Mr Bull is seen posing with his gun next to dead animals including antelope and buffalo, while in other shots his wife stands next to a hippopotamus and a zebra.
“We are two very ordinary people who have been fortunate enough to live an extraordinary life full of adventure,” the couple say on the site.
“There are many hunts after this still to add but we just don’t have the time to do so.”
It comes after the NSW Government introduced a bill to parliament earlier this year to clampdown on illegal gun manufacturing, including targeting those who sell firearm parts.
The bill is yet to pass parliament.
Police Minister David Elliott previously said the new offences would apply to anyone involved in the illegal manufacture of firearms and would attract maximum penalties of 20 years in jail, similar to laws that already target the manufacturing of illicit drugs.