Recreational and sporting shooters have effectively been stopped from enjoying their pursuits as another fallout of COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, the State Government put a temporary ban on licensed dealers, prohibiting the sale of firearms and ammunition for sporting or recreational purposes for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak.

Farmers and rural landholders, professional vermin control operators and armed guards are the only ones allowed to make purchases.

The ban comes following deliberations by the National Cabinet.

Like many other business owners, owner of Gun Sport Trading in Bairnsdale, Andrew Lind, is at a decision crossroads.

“We’re currently trying to work out whether it’s worthwhile staying open,” Andrew said.

“I have bills to pay, and staff to pay. Basically we’re just trying to soak it all in and get as much information as possible.”

Andrew said ideally he would like his store to remain open but he was still shellshocked about the directive.

“At some point there’ll be no one coming in the door,” he said.

“We are in the same boat as everyone else, everyone is feeling it in some way, shape or form, but this decision has basically decreased our market by at least 75 per cent.

“It’s been such a quiet time through the bushfires, business had finally picked up again and now this.”

The government’s reasons include preventing potential stockpiling, and the risk that firearms and ammunition could fall into criminal hands, or that dealers could be targeted by organised crime.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Lisa Neville, said the government was responding to an increase in demand for firearms and ammunition across the country.

“We are doing what we can to protect licensed firearm owners and dealers as well as the broader community,” she said.

However, Andrew disagrees saying several of his suppliers have flagged hefty price increases, which are occurring from now and into the next two weeks.

“People were just trying to get in before prices increase 15 to 25 per cent,” he said.

IMAGE: Gun Sport Trading’s Ryan Peterson and Andrew Lind observe COVID-19 restrictions but have been banned from selling guns and ammunition to recreational shooters. (PS)