Losing a firearm

[johno66]

Gday all,

I know this is a terrible question, though relevant, does anyone know what would happen if you dropped your shotgun over the side of the boat in a deep river and couldn't retrieve it or left a rifle on the back of a vehicle and lost it?

I suspect loss of license and severe fine just wondered if anyone had a specific answer.

[Baldrick314]

Gday all,

I know this is a terrible question, though relevant, does anyone know what would happen if you dropped your shotgun over the side of the boat in a deep river and couldn't retrieve it or left a rifle on the back of a vehicle and lost it?

I suspect loss of license and severe fine just wondered if anyone had a specific answer.

I would think the punishment would depend on the situation. If it was left in the back of the car you'd probably be hit with improper storage but if you dropped over the side of a boat as you mentioned than I wouldn't think the punishment would be as severe

[Aster]

I agree things would depend on the situation.

There is leaving it locked in the boot while you got to the bathroom for 2 minutes, or leaving it in the boot for a day and a night while you're at the pub.

I'm sure you can appreciate the different light VIC police would few the two situations in. For the former I think you'd be ok as you'd done everything you reasonably could to store the firearm, for the latter I think you could expect a suspension/fine.

Simply leaving it on the back of of your ute and forgetting/driving off also wouldn't be looked kindly upon I don't think. Not a shining example of responsible firearms handling/ownership obviously. Again, I suspect a suspension/fine would be forthcoming.

I don't think dropping it off a boat would be as problematic. In that case it would be a genuine accident while the firearm was in your care, and not an example of forgetfulness/negligence on your part.

[howtow]

Are you asking just for asking or did you do one of these?

[kritch]

I think if you do any of those you stay bush forever so you don't have to come back and explain yourself

[ployer]

Off topic for second - Strictly speaking, are you allowed to shoot while on a boat?

Seems like the kind of thing the powers that be might label as 'unsafe'.

[johno66]

Thanks guys for all your response, yes this nearly happened , a person who is a very very responsible shooter , left the rifle on the tarp of the ute for about 2 minutes after a long nights shooting it was realized way before we left the property, he was mortified he done this, although people make mistakes, thus it created a hot topic of discussion umongst us and the gun in the water scenario did happen to my uncle , he was duck shooting on the on the murry in the 70's when going under a tree a branch hooked the gun out of his hand , gone was the beloved browning, guns weren't registered then so it was different obviously, so thanks again everyone.

[Hercl]

If you read the various parts of the Firearms Act you'll find the general theme on handling, storing and transporting firearms is to take all "reasonable precautions".

E.g.
Having a secured safe broken into VS forgetting to close the door.

Leaving a rifle unattended hidden in a locked boot VS on the back seat of your open top W4D.

Dropping it in the creek VS getting pissed and leaving it somewhere in the field.

The situations you've outlined speak of responsible firearm owners making an honest mistake, or having a mishap.

When you're Uncle dropped his shotgun in the river, it obviously wouldn't be "reasonable" to expect him to purchase specialised diving equipment and become skilled in underwater retrieval would it? In such an instance I'm pretty confident they'd chalk that up to an honest mistake and you wouldn't suffer a penalty.

[DaleH]

Dropping it in the creek - sounds like what they do after using it to commit a crime.......

[pmomd]

Dropping it in the creek - sounds like what they do after using it to commit a crime.......

"I accidentally filed the serial numbers off, wiped it down for finger prints and dropped it in a river"