Why a Mobile Digital Licence (mDL) model is the future of firearms licensing in Australia

Firearms licensing in Australia is built on a simple and widely supported principle:

firearms must only be accessible to people who are authorised, responsible, and compliant.

Most shooters understand this. Most clubs support it. And most people involved in the sport take safety seriously.

Where the conversation is starting to shift is how that authorisation is managed, checked, and supported in practice.

Across many industries, identity and licensing are moving away from physical cards and paper-based systems toward secure digital credentials. One of the clearest examples of this shift is the Mobile Digital Licence, often referred to as an mDL.

This article explains what an mDL is, why it matters, and why firearms licensing is a strong candidate for this approach, especially when combined with modern club systems and better data visibility.

What is a Mobile Digital Licence (mDL)?

A Mobile Digital Licence (mDL) is a secure digital version of a licence that lives on your phone, typically in an official app or digital wallet.

It is important to be clear about what an mDL is not.

It is not:

• a photo of a licence card
• a simple PDF
• a tracking tool
• a surveillance system

An mDL is designed to do one thing very well:

prove that a licence is valid, genuine, and current at the moment it is checked.

In everyday terms, an mDL allows someone to confirm:

• that you are licensed
• that your licence is valid right now
• that you are authorised for the activity you are about to undertake

without relying solely on a physical card that may be out of date.

Australia is already moving in this direction with digital driver licences. Firearms licensing is a logical next area to consider the same principles.

How firearms licensing works today

In New South Wales, firearms licences are issued and managed by the NSW Police Force.

A firearms licence defines:

• who is authorised to possess or use firearms
• which categories apply
• what conditions must be met
• whether that authorisation is current

For most shooters, this information is represented by a physical licence card, supported by online services for applications and status checks.

This system has worked for many years, but it increasingly relies on:

• manual checks
• fragmented systems
• paper records at club level
• and assumptions that a card reflects real-time status

As participation grows and expectations around safety and accountability increase, these limitations become more visible.

The real issue is not shooters, it is systems

This is a crucial point that often gets lost in public discussion.

The firearms community has consistently demonstrated that:

• law-abiding shooters are safety-focused and responsible
• clubs invest significant time and effort into compliance
• volunteers carry a high level of responsibility to ensure safe participation

The challenge has never been behaviour.

It is visibility.

When systems are outdated, manual, or disconnected, it becomes harder to clearly see:

• who is participating
• under what licence conditions
• how often participation occurs
• and whether regulatory requirements are being met consistently

This lack of visibility is not a failure of people.

It is a limitation of the tools they are expected to use.

Better systems do not exist to “watch” shooters.

They exist to support responsible participation, protect clubs and volunteers, and safeguard the long-term future of the sport.

This is where modern approaches such as Mobile Digital Licences (mDLs) become relevant, not as a control mechanism, but as a way to improve clarity, accuracy, and trust across the entire system.

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Why firearms licences are well suited to the mDL model

Firearms licensing has characteristics that make it particularly suitable for a mobile digital approach.

1. Authorisation matters at a specific moment

In many situations, the key question is simple:

Is this person authorised to participate right now?

An mDL-style licence can reflect:

• current status
• active conditions
• suspensions or expiries

in real time, rather than relying on a card that may no longer tell the full story.

2. Firearms activity happens in structured environments

Most firearms use takes place at:

• clubs
• ranges
• competitions
• supervised training

These environments already involve:

• check-ins
• attendance records
• supervision
• clear rules

That makes them ideal places to introduce better, more reliable licence verification without increasing risk.

3. Better data does not mean more intrusion

One of the strongest concerns raised by shooters is the fear of “Big Brother” monitoring.

That concern is understandable, but it misunderstands what modern digital licensing is designed to do.

An mDL does not exist to monitor behaviour.

It exists to confirm eligibility.

In fact, done properly, digital licences can:

• reduce oversharing of personal information
• avoid unnecessary data exposure
• remove guesswork and manual interpretation

Good systems are quieter, more accurate, and less invasive than manual ones.

Why this matters for the future of the sport

Firearms sports rely on public confidence and strong governance.

When incidents occur, scrutiny often focuses on questions like:

• Were the systems adequate?
• Were the checks clear?
• Was participation visible and accountable?

Strong data and clear records help the sport demonstrate that:

• access is controlled
• participation is supervised
• compliance is taken seriously

This is not about tightening rules for responsible shooters.

It is about protecting the sport from blunt, reactive regulation caused by system failures.

Where clubs and platforms like SquadSpot fit in

Clubs sit at the point where firearms licensing becomes real.

They are responsible for:

• checking licences
• recording attendance
• managing participation requirements
• supporting supervision

Platforms like SquadSpot exist to support clubs with:

• digital check-ins
• accurate attendance tracking
• clearer participation records
• reduced paperwork

When combined with modern digital licence concepts, this creates:

• clearer validation at check-in
• better visibility without added burden
• stronger protection for clubs and members
• cleaner audit trails when required

Importantly, this improves compliance without changing the culture of the sport.

This is about longevity, not control

The move toward Mobile Digital Licences is not about control or surveillance.

It is about:

• modernising outdated systems
• supporting volunteers and clubs
• reducing administrative risk
• improving consistency
• and safeguarding the long-term future of firearms sport

Better systems help ensure that:

people who should not have access, do not — and those who do are supported, trusted, and protected.

That benefits everyone.

Conclusion: why mDLs are a positive step forward

Mobile Digital Licences represent a broader shift in how licensing and identity are managed in modern society.

For firearms licensing, the benefits are clear:

• more accurate checks
• real-time status visibility
• less reliance on paper
• better protection for clubs and members
• stronger confidence in the system as a whole

This is not about changing the values of the sport.

It is about giving those values better tools.

When implemented thoughtfully, mDLs are not a threat to firearms sport.

They are a way to secure its future.

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