Just plain Incompetent

[Dunxy]

This just occurred to a very close friend of mine.Not naming any names.

He and his father have owed firearms for over 50 years, never been inspected.All were stored at his fathers house, but he recently moved and the safe went to my friends house as his father had no suitable place to affix at his new house.So there was change of address and change of storage address in the case of mates father, 1/2 firearms in mates name other 1/2 his dads.I helped with paperwork, printed forms out for him and told him exactly what to do and he did it all %100 correctly.

So the other day my mate comes home from work and there's a card from vicpo in the mailbox for my mates father, who doesn't live there! My mate calls the number and according to the officer his father has been listed as living there as well as firearms stored, you think maybe they might take a look at say driver licence? Officer didn't seem to listen/care to my mate that his father does not live there and they have never been told he has resided there in any capacity.Anyway they wanted to come do a storage inspection check serials, no issue my mate makes suitable time.

So officer appears at said time, go to safe , open door and explains "whats all the guns, why is there X amount and my paperwork says Y?" Well, his list was only for my mates fathers firearms, not his.Officer was happy with this, but really wouldn't they do all firearms stored at one place at one time? So he then proceeds to check of serials on rifles, does not check clear on firearms and couldn't find serials to save himself, my mate had to point them out, in the end I don't think any actual inspection was done, box's just ticked. Didn't bother to check or even ask about if safe is attached (off course it is) at all either.I don't know if this guy was filling in, my mate told me his name and he is not on the list of DFO's.I understand the officer is just doing his job, but the lack of actually properly conducting the inspections renders them pointless for their intended purposes and just a hassle for LAFO's. Police should know how to properly handle firearms as well, im not saying im surprised, but it is pretty sad.

I just don't understand how they have gotten everything so wrong,paperwork was printed, filled out,scanned and then emailed so all original copies still in my mates and his fathers possession and were checked, filled out correctly so any errors are the firearms licensing people.

[bladeracer]

My DFO made a surprise inspection a few weeks back. His list was one rifle short as it had been sitting on his desk for two months waiting for him to get around to my inspection. I gave him the details of the unlisted rifle so he could confirm when he got back to the office.
I cleared each of my firearms before I handed them to him, I would expect anybody handing a firearm to somebody else to do the same. He had a moment of consternation when I broke the shotgun and he saw two case heads. I explained that as it has no external hammers the only way I can ease the springs is by pulling the trigger, which I don't like to do on an empty chamber, so I use empty shells as snap caps
I had as much trouble finding some serial numbers as he did, and they're my rifles Two of my old ones don't have serial numbers at all, but were given reference numbers when they were originally registered. He suggested I should stamp those numbers onto them when I get a chance.

[Supaduke]

Not always the DFO who inspects. The trend I am seeing is a change of address will flag you for an inspection. The two plods who did my inspection (after an address change) were just normal beat coppers who were roped in.

Not all coppers are firearm enthusiasts. Many do their bare minimum requal each year and that's about the only handling of firearms they do.

[AusTac]

I NEVER let any po po touch my firearms in my own property ( against the law on a public rd to handle then etc ) they barely know how to use and clear their own duty firearm let alone some blokes weird and wonderful collection, one time was good just came to tick the boxes and left, the other time was a bit different, they rocked up totally out of the blue and one seemer to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder and kept muttering to himself " thats a nice firearm " when i pulled out my lithgow.. was happy that was over when it was

[YoungBuck]

Not all coppers are firearm enthusiasts.

I'd word that a different way - majority of cops are not firearms enthusiasts.

Got my first rifle 2.5 years ago, yet to be inspected.

[Gwion]

When bedding my rifles i do all my prep and then do the actual epoxy in the morning. I then apply post heat using hot water bottles to set it off and then it's gone off enough ti put it in the safe over night.

[Gwion]

Hahaha... Fair enough. I know the temptation can be high!

[Bigjobss]

My DFO made a surprise inspection a few weeks back. His list was one rifle short as it had been sitting on his desk for two months waiting for him to get around to my inspection. I gave him the details of the unlisted rifle so he could confirm when he got back to the office.
I cleared each of my firearms before I handed them to him, I would expect anybody handing a firearm to somebody else to do the same. He had a moment of consternation when I broke the shotgun and he saw two case heads. I explained that as it has no external hammers the only way I can ease the springs is by pulling the trigger, which I don't like to do on an empty chamber, so I use empty shells as snap caps
I had as much trouble finding some serial numbers as he did, and they're my rifles Two of my old ones don't have serial numbers at all, but were given reference numbers when they were originally registered. He suggested I should stamp those numbers onto them when I get a chance.

Off topic but empties don't do much, snap caps have springs that bounce back whilst spent shells have primers already depressed so you are pretty much dry firing.
I am not being a smartarse but this was a revelation to me recently after a lifetime of using empties.

On topic I have not had any form of inspection since getting my licence over a year ago after 10 years without it.
Up to the age of-20 living at home we only got inspected once ( I let my licence lapse after leaving home, silly me but making up for lost time now)

[Oldbloke]

He more than likely just got the job dumped on him

[Wombat]

I'm always tempted to ask to see their License when they want to examine my firearms.

[GLS_1956]

This sucks eggs, people.

[bladeracer]

I'm always tempted to ask to see their License when they want to examine my firearms.

While they're on duty they are exempt from requiring a licence.

[Dunxy]

In regards to handing firearams with actions closed, there is no way my mate would have handed him anything with a closed bolt/action,so I can only assume he started helping himself to safe. Don't know, making assumptions and my mate is non contacado at the moment to confirm, i suspect he couldn't get a leave pass to come shooting today and is avoiding me!

He more than likely just got the job dumped on him

Kind of looks that way,I just find it frustrating that the way he conducted the inspection it may as well not have happened!

[Oldbloke]

I think the bottom line is we are enthusiasts and normally that are not. Our knowledge is far greater than theirs. So to them it's a simple stock take. And perhaps in this case preferred to be somewhere else.

The world is becoming very specialised and in some areas over legislated. I think it's good we get checked occasionally, it about how it's done. Basic security is good, keeps the kids out.

[Wombat]

I'm always tempted to ask to see their License when they want to examine my firearms.

While they're on duty they are exempt from requiring a licence.

I know, but have they got proof of that on them?

[bladeracer]

I'm always tempted to ask to see their License when they want to examine my firearms.

While they're on duty they are exempt from requiring a licence.

I know, but have they got proof of that on them?

They only need their Police ID for that.

[marksman]

with regard to using empties for snap caps I use a hole punch to cut a rubber plug for the primer pocket

[Oldbloke]

with regard to using empties for snap caps I use a hole punch to cut a rubber plug for the primer pocket

Yep seen that done before

[Gwion]

I'm always tempted to ask to see their License when they want to examine my firearms.

While they're on duty they are exempt from requiring a licence.

I know, but have they got proof of that on them?

They only need their Police ID for that.

Just on that: technically a uniform and cop car, even a badge is not actual police id. ONLY their photo ID confirms their status as a serving police officer. All police are required by law to produce their photo ID upon request.

[bladeracer]

with regard to using empties for snap caps I use a hole punch to cut a rubber plug for the primer pocket

I just fill the striker indent with silicone.

[Bigjobss]

with regard to using empties for snap caps I use a hole punch to cut a rubber plug for the primer pocket

I just fill the striker indent with silicone.

Damn thats a good idea

[Oldbloke]

Another great example of DIY..

[Lorgar]

The trend I am seeing is a change of address will flag you for an inspection. The two plods who did my inspection (after an address change) were just normal beat coppers who were roped in.

Not all coppers are firearm enthusiasts. Many do their bare minimum requal each year and that's about the only handling of firearms they do.

That was what my one inspection suggested.

Hadn't had one for years, then I moved and about a month later got the call.

2 uniform coppers came out, both friendly and good attitudes over the whole thing.