A bricklayer allegedly found with a loaded sawn-off shotgun and ammo "simply wanted to look cool", a lawyer has argued.
Anthony Nam Trong Nguyen, 27, "wants to be a bit of a show-off," Legal Aid duty lawyer Alana Clarke told a court on Friday.
Nguyen, who has "vendetta" tattooed above his eyebrow, was granted bail in the ACT Magistrates Court.
He is yet to enter pleas to 16 charges including unauthorised possession of prohibited firearms, possessing ammunition, and possessing anabolic steroids.
After 5pm on Thursday, police stopped a vehicle in Palmerston and identified the driver as Nguyen, who allegedly had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and a suspended licence.
A search of the unregistered and uninsured vehicle allegedly uncovered two prohibited knives and multiple shotgun cartridges.
When police later searched Nguyen's Palmerston home they claim to have seized a sawn-off shotgun, an imitation handgun and magazine, ammunition and a small amount of drugs suspected to be steroids.
On Friday, Ms Clarke successfully applied for bail, arguing that based on police allegations there was "nothing to indicate a violent intent".
"He simply wanted to look cool, as the [police documents] suggest," she said.
Ms Clarke told the court Nguyen was a bricklayer who owns his own business, and he would be unable to pay employees if he was remanded in custody.
She said Nguyen, who lives with his parents, regularly donates to charity and has a series of pro-social factors.
Prosecutor Madeleine Gallo opposed bail and argued there was a likelihood of Nguyen endangering public safety if he was released from custody.
Ms Gallo said he was at the "very least negligent" and "clearly does have a capacity to obtain firearms unlawfully".
Despite initially saying the chances of Nguyen's bid for freedom being successful were "low", magistrate Robert Cook granted bail.
"Heed my caution though, if you come back before the court and it is alleged you committed another offence in relation to these matters you might find your bail revoked," the magistrate warned Nguyen.
"[The seized guns are] all examples of firearms or imitation firearms that have been used for criminal offences in the past."
Anyone who has any information about prohibited firearms or weapons is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.
