Thread: Vehicle transport catch-22

Originally Posted by systolic

Your simple minded thought process scares me.

I think the law says you can't leave a gun unattended in a vehicle.

I don't think that is the same as the law saying you can take your guns anywhere you like.

You were fucking stupid to take the gun, even in a bag, into a supermarket. Doing that makes all gun owners look like irresponsible dickheads.

Taking a gun into a supermarket to buy alcohol DID risk your licence.

If I saw someone with a gun in any shop other than a sports shop, I'd call the cops too.

Shit, maybe i should study law. then i might become an expert too.

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.

The guitar case gun bag is a great idea especially considering the public paranoia regarding firearms.

I might get one or something similar. Not that I have had much cause to carry firearms in public but it is there if you ever need to.

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The law needs to be amended because as it stands in regards to transporting firearms, it's down right unrealistic.

In regards to the OP I have heard anecdotally that AO's have previously "signed off" stout lockable containers in vehicles, how true this is I have no idea.

is dropping your guns off at the local cop shop an option ??

Get an AR, so it can be broken down into a backpack in case to you need to duck into the toilets on the way home, or to the the shops to replenish your “bread and milk” supplies.

The law says it is an offence to have a firearm in public without lawful, proper AND sufficient purpose. Maintaining security of said firearm is the definition of a lawful purpose, since you’re also not allowed to leave a firearm insecure, but is maintaining security also a PROPER and SUFFICIENT purpose? The purpose must meet all three requirements, or the offence has been committed.

Oh, and the burden of proof lies with the defendant to show that the purpose was lawful, proper and sufficient.

Originally Posted by R93

The guitar case gun bag is a great idea especially considering the public paranoia regarding firearms.

I might get one or something similar. Not that I have had much cause to carry firearms in public but it is there if you ever need to.

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@R93 maybe a violin case? Too obvious?
In OZ if you follow the letter of the law I think they not only have to be locked up for just this occurrence, if you travel say between NSW and QLD, you also have to notify the local police that you have firearms etc. Not sure if you have to do it straight away or the vicinity of where you are heading

Originally Posted by berg243

I would fit a lock box in my vehicle if it was allowed for travelling and hunting around the country.maybe it is something that could be put forward for this review that is going on at the moment?

@berg243 I would be careful about that. I do not trust our regime to implement this with any sort of common sense and it could prove to be a real ball tearer.
I would it rather be a bit vague as at present and plan ahead somewhat.

A friend of mine kept a clarinet in a violin case

Originally Posted by berg243

I would fit a lock box in my vehicle if it was allowed for travelling and hunting around the country.maybe it is something that could be put forward for this review that is going on at the moment?

Would gladly fit a safe into the bed of my truck if it did any good, have been over this with 2 different arms officer and a couple of other police members and it's a "no go"

@oneshot any helpfull advice for the opening poster?

Originally Posted by 223nut

Would gladly fit a safe into the bed of my truck if it did any good, have been over this with 2 different arms officer and a couple of other police members and it's a "no go"

My only neighbour, who lives in a MOBILE house bus, got his so called gun cabinet signed off without the AO even looking at it. Go figure

Yes you can transport a firearm in a vehicle for as long as you require, because if you are in the vehicle the firearm is in your direct possession and therefore secure for transportation. As far as leaving it unattended in a vehicle for a prolonged amount of time, not a good idea, lets say someone steals your vehicle, or breaks in and steals the rifle. you "could" be at fault for not having it properly secured and are liable for insecure storage if stolen. A vehicle is capable of being moved quite easily, along with everything inside it. A gun safe bolted to a concrete pad, or wall of a house is considered secure enough to not be moved.

You can always call into a Police station and ask them to secure it overnight if you are worried about the vehicle and rifle. Pretty sure there would be people on here willing to help with securing in a gun safe as well in local towns you are at.

Hypothetically-if you had a firearm stolen from a vehicle and told Police that was your regular storage of firearms, your in the shit, if you said " I'm on a hunting trip and just went out for dinner and my vehicle got stolen" then you would get the sympathy vote, not really your fault.

Originally Posted by Pengy

My only neighbour, who lives in a MOBILE house bus, got his so called gun cabinet signed off without the AO even looking at it. Go figure

Guy on the island bolted his to a tree and it was passed as he wasn't allowed to have it in his caravan.....

Did search on "discreet rifle case" and plenty out there.

Really dumb to go for khaki or camo colour IMHO, kind of beats the purpose.