Uniformed officers spent almost three hours on Tuesday morning removing guns one by one from Wentworth Street store Simpson Sport, after the owner was charged with breaching the Firearms Act.

Shane Simpson faces two counts of allowing an unauthorised person possession of the store's stock of guns.

One charge relates to the possession of longarms such as rifles. The other more serious charge relates to handguns.

The unauthorised person, aged 55, was allegedly working in the store without the necessary licence, and has also been charged.

Of the seized guns, 45 belonged to people who used the store for repairs or secure storage, licensing sergeant for Lake Illawarra Local Area Command, Gary Keevers, said.

"If they contact police we can start assessing whether they can be handed back to their owners," he said.

Mr Simpson's firearms dealer's licence has been suspended pending the court outcome.