Thread: Firearm Storage Requirements

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

Good question.

Strictly speaking I should imagine you'd have to keep the E Cat firearm with you the entire time. Highly impractical though if you wanted to go out to a restaurant for dinner or such with the in-laws. An Cat firearm could be stored in an A Cat safe at the in-laws if they have one.

Basically, the same situation arises when you may be away hunting and staying in a hut.

That would look great at the dinner table haha. Me sitting there rocking backwards and forwards haha

The Arms Codes says "Licence holders must take reasonable steps to secure firearms against theft." and "Never leaving your firearm in an unattended vehicle."

The second statement is very impractical. It would mean that you carried your firearm into the petrol station when paying for fuel or café when getting a coffee. If it is in a case it might not cause too much concern but it would be most unusual to see this done.

I focus on the first statement and (as I said above) the reasonable steps one can take.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

The Arms Codes says "Licence holders must take reasonable steps to secure firearms against theft." and "Never leaving your firearm in an unattended vehicle."

The second statement is very impractical. It would mean that you carried your firearm into the petrol station when paying for fuel or café when getting a coffee.

No.

If you choose to visit a petrol station with your firearm in your vehicle it's up to you to take all reasonable steps against theft.

Its your choice to visit a petrol station. Or a bank. Or a supermarket with your firearm. Because you want to go to these places.

No one is forcing you to take your firearm with you when you choose to visit these places.

You choose.

And you choose to accept the consequences of your actions. Because you're an adult.

It works for everyone, whether it's an A cat sitting in the vehicle, or an E cat tucked in the boot.

As to the OP, if you want to use an E cat, store in E cat suitable security. B Cat has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Police, designed for shooters who travel with with pistol but I've yet to met a B cat owner who leaves their pistol unlocked in a bag, in an unlocked car. Dunno, maybe I just don't circulate in the same circle of people of people who just throw their firearms into a car for shits 'n giggles...

Originally Posted by Kscott

No.

If you choose to visit a petrol station with your firearm in your vehicle it's up to you to take all reasonable steps against theft.

Its your choice to visit a petrol station. Or a bank. Or a supermarket with your firearm. Because you want to go to these places.

No one is forcing you to take your firearm with you when you choose to visit these places.

You choose.

And you choose to accept the consequences of your actions. Because you're an adult.

It works for everyone, whether it's an A cat sitting in the vehicle, or an E cat tucked in the boot.

As to the OP, if you want to use an E cat, store in E cat suitable security. B Cat has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Police, designed for shooters who travel with with pistol but I've yet to met a B cat owner who leaves their pistol unlocked in a bag, in an unlocked car. Dunno, maybe I just don't circulate in the same circle of people of people who just throw their firearms into a car for shits 'n giggles...

Thats the way I interperet it, I drive to where Im shooting and I drive back and lock up my firearms if Im by myself. If I am with others then they can go in while I wait in the vehicle.

Originally Posted by Kscott

Its your choice to visit a petrol station.

I dunno, you might be going hunting somewhere that is far enough away from home that you need to refuel on the way. Not much choice about stopping at a petrol station then is there.

Originally Posted by GravelBen

I dunno, you might be going hunting somewhere that is far enough away from home that you need to refuel on the way. Not much choice about stopping at a petrol station then is there.

Well, to follow along with Kscott's super anal logic - you should have taken 20 fuel tanks with you just in case such a situation arose . But then when you stepped out of your car would you carry the firearm while refilling with one of your 20 tanks, or would you still be in breach of the law by leaving it in a locked car a few cm away?

I do get what he's trying to say, but agree with others that not every situation can be predicted. If the worst thing that ever happens is you have to leave a firearm locked in your car while you go in and pay for your fuel then you're probably doing a lot better than most. If it's a choice between that and carry your rifle in to the servo I think I know what most of us are going to do.

At the end of the day the law can't account for every single possible situation. Some common sense has to be used at some point.

Originally Posted by MattyP

.....At the end of the day the law can't account for every single possible situation. Some common sense has to be used at some point.

The common sense thing to do if you had to make a quick petrol/diesel stop is to make sure any firearm is covered up and the car is locked. If you had to answer the call of nature then ask the staff to watch your vehicle in your absence.