Thread: Firearms in Vehicles

This is the only image that I can find of a Police vehicle lockbox - I dont know if it is current. Surely if we transport our firearms in a manner equivalent to the manner in which the Police themselves transport ( and leave unattended ) firearms we are covered. If we are considered to be breaking the law, then we are breaking it no more and no less than the Police must be breaking the law ?? https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=i&ur...r4kDegUIARCBAQ

I asked about this and the taking the bolt with you was explained as for those "rock and a hard place" situations, needing to go to the toilet, going in to pay for gas etc" there's a pragmatic element where if you could demonstrate the necessity you could expect understanding, if you were just demonstrating desire/preference i don't think it would be so well recieved. There are some tough situations like when you are in accommodation while traveling and need to go out for food, chain and padlock can be handy but not always good spots to lock things up

No way I'm taking the bolt out or my BLR or a Winny 94 or Rossi 92, Marlin levers anyone?
Yes I can put a cable lock through the action but lets face it that will last 5 seconds with an angle grinder and a cutoff blade. Not all of us use or want bolt action tomato sticks.

I recall a news story about a guy from timaru, that was driving to Christchurch to deliver his gun to a gunsmith,
Rather than leave it unattended in his vehicle (a violation of the arms regulations 1992) he brought it with him when he stopped into to the public toilets in Ashburton, and was arrested by police for Carrying or possessing firearms, etc, except for*lawful,*proper, and sufficient purpose. (A violation of the arms act)

To my knowledge the arms regulations don't include prescribed penalties or offenses but for a violation of them and police can decide your no longer a fit and proper person.
The arms act 1983 does have offenses sections with fines and prison time, Possible on conviction.
So faced with possible arrest and criminal charges or a regulatory infraction and possible loss of licence which should you choose?

In the old days I used to travel to hanmer and greymouth from Nelson regularly with my 308 in a soft gun bag strapped to the side of my motorcycle . Stops for fuel included and no one used to bat an eyelid .
Doubt that would be possible any more .

Originally Posted by OBRIEN

I recall a news story about a guy from timaru, that was driving to Christchurch to deliver his gun to a gunsmith,
Rather than leave it unattended in his vehicle (a violation of the arms regulations 1992) he brought it with him when he stopped into to the public toilets in Ashburton, and was arrested by police for Carrying or possessing firearms, etc, except for*lawful,*proper, and sufficient purpose. (A violation of the arms act)

To my knowledge the arms regulations don't include prescribed penalties or offenses but for a violation of them and police can decide your no longer a fit and proper person.
The arms act 1983 does have offenses sections with fines and prison time, Possible on conviction.
So faced with possible arrest and criminal charges or a regulatory infraction and possible loss of licence which should you choose?

The Police use a lock box. They cant remove the bolts from Bushmasters easily. The only solution for us I can see, is to copy the Police and use a lock box and where the bolt cannot be removed use a trigger lock as well. I believe that a judge would have to dismiss a charge of leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle if the defense was that the firearm was secured in a way identical to that used by the Police

I recall a guy who was sitting his FAL test with me say that he had lost his license years back after buying a gun from H&F, stopping for a pie on the way home and being broken into while in the bakery. Granted that's a dumb as fuck thing to do, but it does suggest if the wrong people know you have a firearm in your vehicle - they will follow you and wait for an opportunity to take it.

I know we're currently getting spanked by the law, but some of these rules are pretty self explanatory.

Originally Posted by berg243

went down that path with the local AO , nope because gun laws apply to firearm license holders but not police or armed forces in carrying out their occupation . so you can have a lock box in your vehicle but the rules still apply as in not leaving unattended firearms in your vehicle .

The AO might say that but what would a Judge say ?? With a suitably made secure lock box ( equivalent to a home safe ) the firearms wont be stolen or seen and that is the goal surely

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

The Police use a lock box. They cant remove the bolts from Bushmasters easily. The only solution for us I can see, is to copy the Police and use a lock box and where the bolt cannot be removed use a trigger lock as well. I believe that a judge would have to dismiss a charge of leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle if the defense was that the firearm was secured in a way identical to that used by the Police

Police are exempt from the arms act so it doesn't matter

A judge would be bound by what the law says, which is that it is illegal to leave firearms in an unattended vehicle.
A lockbox is useless if they steal the vehicle.

its illegal to smoke a cigarette inside a company vechille........ever seen anyone fined /arrested/sacked for doing so???????

Originally Posted by Danger Mouse

Police are exempt from the arms act so it doesn't matter

I think it does matter how the Police transport firearms because it sets a precedent and example.

yeah but they have had...how many is it now??? pinched in last couple of years....so we are actually BETTER at firearm security in trasit than they are..... maybe they should be copying us...LOL.

Originally Posted by Cigar

A judge would be bound by what the law says, which is that it is illegal to leave firearms in an unattended vehicle.
A lockbox is useless if they steal the vehicle.

A well constructed lockbox is far from useless if it cannot easily be opened and the vehicle is recovered quickly after being abandoned with valuables removed as often happens. I have never heard of Police firearms being taken from a locked storage box, but Police vehicles are stolen quite often

didnt it happen last year???as loxbox keys were on car keyring???