Well the truth is a little different..... I did buy beers, but the shop visit was for something else the missus wanted me to get at the last moment.
But, if I wanted beers then so what?
The rifle is in a bag and obviously not ready for action.
And did the rifle bag even contain a rifle? I used a rifle bag for my hockey stick back in high school!
On another occasion I was on my way to a weekend shoot up north, I had about a dozen guns in the car and again needed beer...... Too many to carry with me and half of them had no bag (not an option to carry un bagged guns in my opinion, even though it is legal I think it is asking for trouble. BUT in a bag is reasonable and an honest attempt to be polite to the sensitive/stupid folk)
So I stuffed up my planning and forgot to get some beers for the weekend.... it was about 10.00pm so my only option was the local supermarket. I pulled up and asked a trolley boy and explained the situation, then asked if he could buy a box.
He comes out a minute later and says the manager wont let him buy them for me! (Im 37 so not at all looking underage) I ask him to get the manager or a trolley for my guns...... the manager comes out and i politely ask again, give him money and id.....
He comes back with a box.
happy ending.
I then skulled 6 beers before driving another 4 hours north, shooting road signs all the way.
I guess It is un reasonable for me to expect that the public should accept my actions as anything but reasonable.
Why should we as law abiding people be treated as out casts? I say that the police should try to educate the public that it is illegal for us to leave our guns in cars. BUT at the same time I agree that it is a good idea to avoid carrying them in public for a few reasons: security (not advertising the fact we have them) and not alarming the dim few who would panic at the sight of a gun bag (certain police included)
I have left them in the car when I can see it (cafe etc, and parked out front)
BUT I will never leave em in a car un attended without written permission from the police big cheese.
Those of you who do leave them un attended risk them being stolen and also more negative publicity about irresponsible gun owners leaving their firearms illegally in their cars for gang members to steal!!! (how about that for a sensational headline!)
I live in the big smoke, I know in the sticks its a bit less risky.... but it is still the law, and if your arms officer is a jerk you might get in trouble one day.
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