Thread: Firearms in Vehicles

Hey team,

Got a question for the more educated;

What are the laws around leaving a firearm unattended in a vehicle?

For example i’m on my way to the range and need to stop at the shops and leave the rifle in the locked truck?

Or a more extreme example of a mate and I go hunting, both bring a rifle and then decide we only want to take 1 with us. Can we leave the rifle in the car if we take the bolt for it with us?

Please advice,

cheers,

7RMBoy

From the Arms Code (2013)
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/def...-code-2013.pdf

Car
• You may not leave a firearm in an unattended vehicle.
‘Unattended’ means no-one is in, near or able to watch the vehicle.
• If possible, make the firearm inoperable e.g. by taking out the bolt.
• You cannot drive a vehicle on a road with a loaded firearm.
This includes the magazine – it must be empty.
• Even on private property it is dangerous to have a loaded firearm in a vehicle,
or to get in or out of the vehicle with a loaded firearm.
• Be careful when moving your firearm in or out of a vehicle.
Treat it as loaded. Do not point it at yourself or at anyone else.
Do not pull it towards you by the muzzle.

That's the official version.
The law is an arse.

How well will it work if you need to go to the bank (or cafe) on your long trip?
You take your firearms soft or hard case with you.
The bank won't let you in.
Nek minute the AOS come racing around the corner .....

A practical, but illegal solution is to always take your bolt(s) with you when you leave the vehicle.
Then, at least, you're leaving an inoperative firearm in the locked vehicle. Cover/hide the firearm too.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

From the Arms Code (2013)
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/def...-code-2013.pdf

So where they say “if possible, make the firearm inoperable” does that mean you ‘can’ leave it unattended if i take the bolt with me? Or is it just a blanket no? Seems to contradict itself there

Originally Posted by 7RMBoy

So where they say “if possible, make the firearm inoperable” does that mean you ‘can’ leave it unattended if i take the bolt with me? Or is it just a blanket no? Seems to contradict itself there

No.

Car
• You may not leave a firearm in an unattended vehicle.
‘Unattended’ means no-one is in, near or able to watch the vehicle.

Though it may or may not be what many practical firearm owners do.

Cheers for that guys. Guess the law doesn’t make practical sense as often as it should

Originally Posted by Cyclops

From the Arms Code (2013)
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/def...-code-2013.pdf



That's the official version.
The law is an arse.

How well will it work if you need to go to the bank (or cafe) on your long trip?
You take your firearms soft or hard case with you.
The bank won't let you in.
Nek minute the AOS come racing around the corner .....

A practical, but illegal solution is to always take your bolt(s) with you when you leave the vehicle.
Then, at least, you're leaving an inoperative firearm in the locked vehicle. Cover/hide the firearm too.

The way the law is written it seems to to have taken into account Finnwolfs, Bergaras etc...bolts indeed!

Originally Posted by Cyclops

........................The law is an arse.

How well will it work if you need to go to the bank (or cafe) on your long trip?
You take your firearms soft or hard case with you.
The bank won't let you in.
Nek minute the AOS come racing around the corner .....

Perhaps not.

Today, I took my 1900's 12 gauge hammer, rolled wire barreled shotgun to the gunsmith for his opinion on safety for firing. I had expected to leave it with him but he did the task on the spot and I had to take it away....which was a little inconvenient as supermarket shopping was next on my "to do list".

I decided not to leave it in the car, nor go home and then return to the Countdown supermarket, so slung the gun inside the padded bag diagonally across my back and wheeled the trolley around, completed the shopping, did the check out after waiting in queue, had a discussion with check out supervisor re undercharging and all with no "looks" or questions.

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

Perhaps not.

Today, I took my 1900's 12 gauge hammer, rolled wire barreled shotgun to the gunsmith for his opinion on safety for firing. I had expected to leave it with him but he did the task on the spot and I had to take it away....which was a little inconvenient as supermarket shopping was next on my "to do list".

I decided not to leave it in the car, nor go home and then return to the Countdown supermarket, so slung the gun inside the padded bag diagonally across my back and wheeled the trolley around, completed the shopping, did the check out after waiting in queue, had a discussion with check out supervisor re undercharging and all with no "looks" or questions.

Attachment 159144

All good and well you didn't get stopped, but for me I will have a visible cable lock and chamber flag 'when I take a gun to town' as well as the gun bag. Better that than being in the wrong place at the wrong time say during an AOS response and getting a 'black mark' for carrying a complete firearm that could be stolen from your person while you are bent over checking the cucumbers.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

All good and well you didn't get stopped, but for me I will have a visible cable lock and chamber flag 'when I take a gun to town' as well as the gun bag. Better that than being in the wrong place at the wrong time say during an AOS response and getting a 'black mark' for carrying a complete firearm that could be stolen from your person while you are bent over checking the cucumbers.

If you read my post again you may see that i wrote " slung the gun inside the padded bag diagonally across my back.

Cucumbers or grapes, I suspect that I would be aware of anyone trying to remove it from me.

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

If you read my post again you may see that i wrote " slung the gun inside the padded bag diagonally across my back.

Cucumbers or grapes, I suspect that I would be aware of anyone trying to remove it from me.

I didnt miss the gunbag. I would like to know what would happen if you were stopped by the Police, who then asked to see the firearm. I am sure that would of shrunk your zucchini and grapes. Do you have acceptable legal cause to carry it in the fruit and vege dept ?? Is it carried in a manner that prevents it being used if stolen etc etc.
We all know the law is an ass but that doesnt excuse us from acting in a sensible way and leaving the firearms securely locked to a structure in the car with a part removed. If it was me, with a shotgun I would of taken the barrels with me in the gunbag and left the rest locked and covered in the car

Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

Perhaps not.

Today, I took my 1900's 12 gauge hammer, rolled wire barreled shotgun to the gunsmith for his opinion on safety for firing. I had expected to leave it with him but he did the task on the spot and I had to take it away....which was a little inconvenient as supermarket shopping was next on my "to do list".

I decided not to leave it in the car, nor go home and then return to the Countdown supermarket, so slung the gun inside the padded bag diagonally across my back and wheeled the trolley around, completed the shopping, did the check out after waiting in queue, had a discussion with check out supervisor re undercharging and all with no "looks" or questions.

Attachment 159144

That could be a useful side effect of a large chunk of the general public not knowing one end of a firearm from the other. As long as it is in a case they may not recognise it for what it is and get in a panic expecting lead to start flying .

Any one know of a guitar case going cheap ?

Originally Posted by Ftx325

That could be a useful side effect of a large chunk of the general public not knowing one end of a firearm from the other. As long as it is in a case they may not recognise it for what it is and get in a panic expecting lead to start flying .

Any one know of a guitar case going cheap ?

SHITt.....You gotta "Chicago Piano"?

Originally Posted by Cyclops

From the Arms Code (2013)
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/def...-code-2013.pdf



That's the official version.
The law is an arse.

How well will it work if you need to go to the bank (or cafe) on your long trip?
You take your firearms soft or hard case with you.
The bank won't let you in.
Nek minute the AOS come racing around the corner .....

A practical, but illegal solution is to always take your bolt(s) with you when you leave the vehicle.
Then, at least, you're leaving an inoperative firearm in the locked vehicle. Cover/hide the firearm too.

Originally Posted by Cordite

Thanks for posting link Cordite. Under offenses 'Carrying or possessing a firearm without a lawful, proper and sufficient purpose' Is hunting organic Broccoli in the supermarket 'proper and sufficient purpose' ? This is written in a way that Police have some discretion. The Police I know would take a dim view of firearms being carried into ordinary shops and not consider the purpose sufficient.
Lets all be sensible and keep our noses clean. Build a lock box for your vehicle

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Thanks for posting link Cordite. Under offenses 'Carrying or possessing a firearm without a lawful, proper and sufficient purpose' Is hunting organic Broccoli in the supermarket 'proper and sufficient purpose' ? This is written in a way that Police have some discretion. The Police I know would take a dim view of firearms being carried into ordinary shops and not consider the purpose sufficient.
Lets all be sensible and keep our noses clean. Build a lock box for your vehicle

Carrying to avoid breaking the specific law of leaving it in an unattended vehicle must be considered a lawful reason. That is the inference of the specific law.