Thread: Some commentary please . I have a gun cupboard .....

See what's just happened???? Person A says bolts in is ok and person B says it's not.... What do the rules ACTUALLY say?

There's no LAW that says you must store the bolt separately from the firearm. There are Police recommendations but, fortunately, they don't get to overrule the
legislation.

Originally Posted by ASap

Hi there Les,

According to New Zealand firearms storage regulations, firearms, bolts, and ammunition must be stored securely and separately. Here’s a brief rundown:

• Firearms: Should be stored in a locked safe or cabinet that is sturdy and secure, which you’ve already implemented inside your cupboard.
• Bolts and Vital Parts: These should be stored separately from the firearms. It’s acceptable to keep them in a separate locked compartment within the gun safe or in a different secure location.
• Ammunition: Must also be stored securely and separately from both the firearms and bolts. A locked container or compartment is suitable for this purpose.

From your description, it seems you have:

1. A locked cupboard with a sturdy door and blind hinges.
2. Inside that cupboard, a gun safe secured with its own key.
3. An internal compartment within the gun safe for bolts and ammo, also locked separately.

You don’t necessarily have to hide the bolts and ammo in completely different locations unless you choose to. Storing them in separate locked compartments within your existing setup meets the requirement of being stored “separately.” So, keeping ammunition on the shelves inside the locked cupboard is acceptable if it’s secured and not accessible to unauthorized persons.

Always ensure that each component—firearms, bolts, and ammunition—is secured with its own lock and key. If in doubt, it’s a good idea to consult the official guidelines or reach out to local authorities for clarification.

Hope this helps!

Those are guidelines, not the law

A man's got to know his limitations

Originally Posted by ASap

Hi there Les,

According to New Zealand firearms storage regulations, firearms, bolts, and ammunition must be stored securely and separately. Here’s a brief rundown:

• Firearms: Should be stored in a locked safe or cabinet that is sturdy and secure, which you’ve already implemented inside your cupboard.
• Bolts and Vital Parts: These should be stored separately from the firearms. It’s acceptable to keep them in a separate locked compartment within the gun safe or in a different secure location.
• Ammunition: Must also be stored securely and separately from both the firearms and bolts. A locked container or compartment is suitable for this purpose.

From your description, it seems you have:

1. A locked cupboard with a sturdy door and blind hinges.
2. Inside that cupboard, a gun safe secured with its own key.
3. An internal compartment within the gun safe for bolts and ammo, also locked separately.

You don’t necessarily have to hide the bolts and ammo in completely different locations unless you choose to. Storing them in separate locked compartments within your existing setup meets the requirement of being stored “separately.” So, keeping ammunition on the shelves inside the locked cupboard is acceptable if it’s secured and not accessible to unauthorized persons.

Always ensure that each component—firearms, bolts, and ammunition—is secured with its own lock and key. If in doubt, it’s a good idea to consult the official guidelines or reach out to local authorities for clarification.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for your opinion . It aligns with my own as well . les

Originally Posted by 308

Also you should own so much ammo that you can't fit it all into one of those piddly little boxes that they put inside safes

I will will explain a little . I shoot a shotgun as well , so there is more than a box of ammo for that firearm , then there is the brick of .17 hmr , and my deerstalking habit and so ..

Originally Posted by 308

Those are guidelines, not the law

A man's got to know his limitations

Yes, guidelines as the writer uses a mixture of mandatory and discretionary language (must, shall, should). I don't believe they should use any discretionary language, and should just stick to the law. Then everything they communicate would be black and white. It should be up to the individual if they wish to do more than the law requires.

Originally Posted by ASap

Hi there Les,

According to New Zealand firearms storage regulations, firearms, bolts, and ammunition must be stored securely and separately. Here’s a brief rundown:[LIST][*]Bolts and Vital Parts: These should be stored separately from the firearms. It’s acceptable to keep them in a separate locked compartment within the gun safe or in a different secure location.

Notice your mistake? Must and Should are two entirely different words, especially when it comes to government-speak.

I would take anything ASap posts with a grain of salt, every one of his reads like something straight out of an Ai program...

Regarding guidelines:

Every firearms licence is subject to the following conditions:
19 (2)(d) complying with guidance notices issued by the Commissioner under section 87(1)(b) of the Act (if any) that relate to the secure storage of firearms by licence holders.

and within the above mentioned 87(1)(b)
The Commissioner may issue notices that provide guidance or details of an administrative nature that relate to 1 or more of the following:
(b) the requirements of regulations made under section 74(1)(j) that relate to the security of premises where firearms are kept:

so it seems to me that the only way the 1992 Arms Regulation Act could require bolts to be kept separated from the rifles would depend on whether such guidance has been issued by the Commissioner and has been gazetted, so spelt out elsewhere, and also whether guidance in this area is even provided for within the Act — within the scope of "security of premises" — to me that seems more about the structure being used and perhaps its location rather than the details of storage within premises. Does anyone have knowledge that such guidance either falls outside of the remit of the Act or has not been issued?

Actually 74 (1)(j) making provision for the security of premises at which any firearm or class of firearm is kept, and prescribing precautions to be taken to prevent the theft or misuse of firearms, airguns, pistols, prohibited items, restricted weapons, pistol carbine conversion kits, ammunition, and explosives in the possession of any person or class of persons

So my interpretation would be that providing guidance that must be adhered to regarding the method of storing of bolts is within the Act and covered by
precautions to be taken to prevent the theft or misuse of firearms
As above, does anyone know if such guidance has been formally issued?