Thread: Firearm Storage Requirements

My interpretation of the law regarding the leaving of a firearm in an unattended vehicle is:

You must keep your firearm with you at all time, even if you need to go into a bank, or a restaurant, supermarket or wherever.

You must not pass that firearm to a third party unless they are a firearm license holder

If it is an E cat firearm, you cannot let anyone be in possession of it, unless they have a dealers license.

This strictly follows the letter of the law. However, the letter of the law is open to interpretation until the existence of case law. Has anyone been prosecuted for leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle? If so, what were the circumstances, and what was the outcome? A magistrate / jury will look at each case individually. Someone leaving a rifle on their front seat whilst ducking into a dairy to buy some fags (settle down you sickos ), will be treated differently to someone who conceals their firearm whilst doing some banking. But the case law will set the legal precedent for either case. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The above post, with the line " you must keep your firearm with you at all times, even if you go into a bank"

Can you imagine waltzing into the bank with an ar15 on your back !!!!
men in black overalls would be all over you.

Originally Posted by Yukon

My interpretation of the law regarding the leaving of a firearm in an unattended vehicle is:

You must keep your firearm with you at all time, even if you need to go into a bank, or a restaurant, supermarket or wherever..

Arms Act 1983

51 Unlawful carriage or possession in public place of firearm, airgun, pistol, ammunition, explosive, or restricted weapon

(1) Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $4,000 or to both who, except for some lawful purpose,—

(a) carries in a public place; or

(b) has in his possession in any public place— any firearm, airgun, pistol, ammunition, explosive, or restricted weapon.

(2) In any prosecution for an offence against subsection (1), in which it is proved that the defendant was carrying in any public place or had in his possession in any public place any firearm, airgun, pistol, ammunition, explosive, or restricted weapon, the burden of proving the existence of some lawful purpose shall lie on the defendant.