Gun safe in a storage locker Victoria

[Wes]

We're moving out of our current place in a few months and don't have the next one lined up yet.

It's almost certain we're going to have to put out stuff into a storage locker for a month or two and probably crash with a friend, or rent a spare room etc.

Leaves me with the issue of the gun safe. I've got a 150kg + safe so doesn't need to be bolted down.

Given that, it would seem logical I can leave it in a storage locker place and would just have to update the address with the registry for the weeks/months it's there.

I've sent an email to Licensing Division in the mean time but am throwing it out for feedback too in case their response is unhelpful as they're occasionally prone to be.

Cheers.

[southeast varmiter]

Unless it your new place of residence you should have the, stored at a gun dealers.

[Gwion]

I believe police will keep them safe as well. Was just talking about this with a friend on the weekend. He has travelled internationally and changed states a lot for work and said he has stored his firearms with police a number of times. Much cheaper than most dealers. Worth enquiring.

[bladeracer]

We're moving out of our current place in a few months and don't have the next one lined up yet.

It's almost certain we're going to have to put out stuff into a storage locker for a month or two and probably crash with a friend, or rent a spare room etc.

Leaves me with the issue of the gun safe. I've got a 150kg + safe so doesn't need to be bolted down.

Given that, it would seem logical I can leave it in a storage locker place and would just have to update the address with the registry for the weeks/months it's there.

I've sent an email to Licensing Division in the mean time but am throwing it out for feedback too in case their response is unhelpful as they're occasionally prone to be.

Cheers.

I would think a self-storage place would be fine but they might have their own rules about storing ammunition.
Otherwise, almost any dealer should offer storage pretty cheaply. I think I paid about $1 a day last time I had my dealer hold two rifles for me.
You don't have any licenced friends that can store them for you? The only problem with that would be if the total number of firearms stored on the property required alarms and such. But I _think_ you can even put your safe in a house with unlicenced people as long as they can't access it?

[bladeracer]

I believe police will keep them safe as well. Was just talking about this with a friend on the weekend. He has travelled internationally and changed states a lot for work and said he has stored his firearms with police a number of times. Much cheaper than most dealers. Worth enquiring.

I'm from WA where they hate guns so much I would never risk leaving my firearms in their care. I'm sure they would very happily "accidentally" destroy them and offer you cash compensation if it takes some more evil guns out of circulation.

[juststarting]

Shops in VIC charge an arm and and leg for it. One of the shops also wanted me to sign off all the guns to them while in their possession. Then reapply, f-that. And that was $30 per month per gun, charged in month blocks. Gets expensive!

Then I dropped by Moorabbin police station. Asked them if I could store there. They knew exactly what I was taking about, but no longer offered that service due to aholes not coming back for guns when agreed on, so I was told.

[doc]

I've sent an email to Licensing Division in the mean time but am throwing it out for feedback too in case their response is unhelpful as they're occasionally prone to be.

Please let us know what they reply with...

Personally I would only store with police if it was a small station and I knew them personally. I don't know how rough other police might treat the guns, or where they would store them otherwise. (Damp environment, or just tossed in and bashed around, etc)...

[happyhunter]

Try Kennards. They do lockup storage as well as specialised firearm storage.

[Wes]

Unless it your new place of residence you should have them stored at a gun dealers.

"should" or "must". I want to know the law on this, not "should".

Try Kennards. They do lockup storage as well as specialised firearm storage.

$54 a month for 3 rifle locker. $84 a month for 5.

$84 a month for a lockers worth of space is a little rich IMO, considering 3 square metres is typically less than $200.

You don't have any licenced friends that can store them for you? The only problem with that would be if the total number of firearms stored on the property required alarms and such. But I _think_ you can even put your safe in a house with unlicenced people as long as they can't access it?

Not so much with the licensed friends, but I suppose leaving the safe with someone who has no access works just as well.

[Wes]

Got a reply from FAR

Thank you for your email.

I would recommend that you nominate a temporary residential and postal address in Victoria (perhaps a friend of family member) to enable us to contact you if the need arises. It is a condition of your licence that you notify Licensing & Regulation Division within 7 days of any change to your personal details in writing. If you keep us up to date as to your whereabouts and can contact you there shouldn’t be any problems.

As long as your firearms are stored securely and according to Schedule 4 of the Firearms Act 1996 and you are able to give Victoria Police access to inspect on request you can store wherever you nominate. May I suggest that you consider storing with a licensed firearm dealer or another licenced person? I encourage you to view more information about the Victorian firearms storage requirements here: http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=36210

Looks like it can basically be anywhere as long the safe and installation is up to scratch and they know where to find them.

I didn't mentioned it in original post but we might do a family vacation for a few weeks before moving into the next place. I did explain that in my email to FAR.

In relation to that, the only thing I believe is slightly off the mark is inspections "on request" as the act states inspections are to be done at a "reasonable time". If you're away at the time they request it, it's obviously only reasonable to do it once you're back. They must find people are away when they call for an inspection often enough though, I think it's been mentioned here a few times actually. No problem there I'm sure.

[doc]

Thanks for posting their reply!

As for the notice in writing within 7 days of change of address - heads up if using snail mail - don't wait too long as at present some of the mail I've received recently Australia post's delivery time could be enough to put anyone in breach of the regulation even if you posted within a few days of the move. (I think you'd be hard pressed to be charged on it, but I wouldn't take the risk).

[happyhunter]

Unless it your new place of residence you should have them stored at a gun dealers.

"should" or "must". I want to know the law on this, not "should".

Try Kennards. They do lockup storage as well as specialised firearm storage.

$54 a month for 3 rifle locker. $84 a month for 5.

$84 a month for a lockers worth of space is a little rich IMO, considering 3 square metres is typically less than $200.

You don't have any licenced friends that can store them for you? The only problem with that would be if the total number of firearms stored on the property required alarms and such. But I _think_ you can even put your safe in a house with unlicenced people as long as they can't access it?

Not so much with the licensed friends, but I suppose leaving the safe with someone who has no access works just as well.

I thought it was $47/month for a 3 gun safe so maybe they put the price up. You could always store them at a mates place. It doesn't matter where they are stored as long as storage complies with the regs.

[Oldbloke]

Dont forget that moving house/storage often triggers an inspection.

[RealNick]

I think he's duffed the 7 days bit too.

Says 14 days on Pol website.

If you have a firearm licence or permit, you are required by law to notify Victoria Police's Licensing & Regulation Division in writing within 14 days of any changes to:

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=34331

[Wes]

Dont forget that moving house/storage often triggers an inspection.

That's no issue. As said safe is over 150kg so wherever I plonk it down things are in order. Don't have to worry about proper installation or anything that you might be sprung on.

If we went away and they happened to call straight after for an inspection, same as already covered above. If I'm not there I can't open it until I get back can I.

It's all good

[Wes]

I thought it was $47/month for a 3 gun safe so maybe they put the price up. You could always store them at a mates place. It doesn't matter where they are stored as long as storage complies with the regs.

That's going to be the plan I think.

[Msr001]

Hi there would wondering if you could answer a question, I have a straight pull shotgun and a lever release rifle, to store in a safe do I need to have a breech flag in or just the action back?

Also I’m vic

[dpskipper]

having a flag inside counts as "action broken"

[bladeracer]

Hi there would wondering if you could answer a question, I have a straight pull shotgun and a lever release rifle, to store in a safe do I need to have a breech flag in or just the action back?

Also I’m vic

In Victoria you don't have to do either, just leave the bolt closed.