What type of container should I have for ammunition?

[JoeG]

Mate, there has to be a grey area here somewhere. I have a son and quite often we set up targets and shoot our sub sonic 22 from the back verandah together. Once a mate came around and I gave him a couple of shots of the 410. Subseqently the police came around to check and were happy I had a back stop and I was licenced and left. The thing is, over the course of the day (the shooting period) the ammo was all over the table on the back verandah. Now acording to law, this was "unsecured ammo". So why wasnt I charged then? (That was a rehtoricle question) I could understand if they found ammo lying all over the place, that would be irresponsible, but to have a couple of shells you are currentley/have recently been using? What about in your car going to a hunt? What about in your pocket leaving the ammo shop? Surley a couple of shells in your draw, (on the way to the safe) is a grey area?

[bladeracer]

Talk to one of the firearm lawyers, search Karrie Louden on Facebook, she and Ross Williamson are in Wa.

I think the fact that you surrendered the other ammo when were able to can be seen as evidence of good intent.

[AussieCapitalist]

Was the search lawful, did they have a warrant?

Firearm laws are rather clear in regards to storage requirements so I doubt there is a grey area mate. You really have to talk to a good lawyer mate. Yes it will cost a lot but do not plead guilty. You wont be able to get a passport among many other things for firearm offences.

[JoeG]

I dont think paying a couple of thousand to a lawyer is going to put it to the magistrate any different than I can. Its a pretty straght forward charge with a straight forward answer. I handed in 2500 rounds the week before, badly broke my leg and couldnt get up the loft (have taken pics) and was using the ammo the night before. Its not as if it was just laying around, so anyone had access to it? Ill let you know how I go.

[TassieTiger]

Just a query Joe - are you known to police at all? It sounds like they have visited you a couple times - has someone reported you in for shooting or is there a police station behind your back stop lol? 6 cars Attending sounds excessive for a one legged man...

Reason I ask - if someone has it in for you, if they’ve been in the ear of the police, if they have additional info/charges up their sleeve - a lawyer can find out by application for the charge brief. (You can as well but it will be difficult).
You might say - screw em or surely not, but police prosecution is a weird entity. Your a number to them, they want results and will do what ever to get fast results and move on.

You might find your charged on individual counts for each ammunition piece to bolster the sound of the case...”Mr Joe - your charged with 17 counts of firearms related offences but the prosecution is willing to drop 15 of those counts, if you plead guilty to count 1 and 17.”...etc etc.
I took prosecuting officer on once For a minor infraction (I’m not a lawyer but have had a passing interest lol) - they called 20 witnesses and demanded pre trial that I would have to pay for them all - trying to scare me out of the case...luckily the magistrate said that was excessive and told the prosecution off - but they don’t care, it happens all the time...it’s just another case to them.

Depending on circumstances - legal aid as a first call may be option, it’s free and some decent lawyers in there doing their civic duty. Also remember - if your successful with a lawyer, they are likely to apply to the court for their fee on your behalf.

[Ziege]

Yeah look I know it seems needlessly expensive, but s**t happens, don't proceed without a lawyer, not a s**ty solicitor either, always get a barrister at a minimum

[Farmerpete]

A guilty plea is an admission of guilt the only reason to do it is if your hoping for leniency.
If that's what your trying to achieve get a plea deal drawn up in exchange for your guilty plea i.e. non conviction and allowed to retain firearm license.
Don't just listen to the prosecutor or police who tell you the judge will go easier if you plead guilty. Follow these rules
1.Dont say a word (police are not your friends in this, their sole goal is to get a conviction)
2. Get legal representation (do not wave this right)
3. Only communicate in your attorney's presence and only
through him (he knows how to word things so you don't admit to more than you think you are) e.g. instead of saying "i knew they were in the draw but forgot to mention them at the station"
he might say "my client struggled down to the station on a broken leg to hand in all the ammunition he could safely gather from the house in order to fully comply after police left some behind during the initial firearm removal stage of enforcement"

[Ziege]

Exactly, police only ever speak to you when they don't have enough evidence to throw the cuffs on, they're never trying to help you, only convict you, they're on a fishing expedition and you have to give them 0 bites

[JoeG]

Brother inlaw, VRO, saying I had ilegal firearms, looking for false walls, found nothing. The police were actually pissed off that this peanut had made the whole story up. I have never had illegal firearms. As far as the grey area is concerened. This is it. If I am on my back verandah shooting my guns with my wife and son and have ammo all over the table and shells all over the floor, which happenes nearly every weekend, and I stop to get a drink, take a s**t, check my targets up close, get a allan key out of my shed or even walk around the front of my house to answer the police at my front door, or BREAKING A LEG AND BEING RUSHED TO HOSPITAL, THEN SIMPLY FORGETING ABOUT THE SHELLS IN MY TOP DRAW... Even though I have handed in 2500 rounds when I was able, BECAUSE I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING. Surely, surely the magistrate must look at the cops and shake her head. Its not as if I had ammo stashed everywhere or just lying around in random spots like a redneck. Thanks for all you replies. I will talk to legal aid, (as I said earlier, I have just cleaned out my last 4k to pay for the VRO) This is a good forum. Its good to be able to talk to someone and share your fire arm problems.

[Farmerpete]

The vro being false goes in your favor but don't plead guilty the only way you'll get to tell your side is if you plead NOT guilty

[JoeG]

Oh, and I am a clean skin. This is my first offence.

[JoeG]

Thanks Farmerpete