Guns Carried / Transported, Away From Home.

[MR. WINCHESTER]

Can't seem to find a definitive answer to questions relating to the transportation of firearms in N.S.W.

* If I travel to an intrastate shoot and choose to stay overnight in a motel .... what procedures do I need to involve myself, regarding 'safe storage' overnight ?

* On a stop-over, during travel ( eg: lunchtime meal ) ... what are the requirements, concerning 'safe storage' of category A & B firearms within a vehicle ?

[doc]

When traveling I leave them locked and chained (or otherwise secure) out of sight in my boot whilst stopped for lunch meals, breaks, etc...

At the end of the day - when I'm no longer going out such that I've had tea, or whatever, and I'm not going to be leaving my motel room again until the following day - I bring them inside and keep them with me.

Think about it from a theft point of view. What is the safest way of keeping these from being stolen? Unoccupied motel rooms are more easy to sneak in unawares and go through people's belongings than a car boot - so the car is the better solution whilst you're not in your motel room.

And then, when you're staying in for the rest of the night, and you can put a latch on your motel room so it can only be opened from the inside and you are present, then it would be more difficult for someone to sneak in and steel them from the motel room than to break into your car and get them.

[brett1868]

Must be fate that this thread came up as I'm in the exact same position, heading to Vic in a couple weeks to shoot in a comp. I called Mildura Police this morning and I'm now waiting on someone from their firearms branch to get back to me. If in doubt, call the Police station in the town you're visiting and ask for some guidance and always write down the rank / name of the officer you spoke to. Worse case, if you get busted you have proof that you took all reasonable precautions to comply with secure transport and storage. I'll report back once I hear from Vic Police.

[Oldbloke]

Not intending to hijack the discussion. But what if you went away for a month in the caravan? Keep it in the boot or under the bed in the van? Im in Victoria.

[MR. WINCHESTER]

When traveling I leave them locked and chained (or otherwise secure) out of sight in my boot whilst stopped for lunch meals, breaks, etc...

At the end of the day - when I'm no longer going out such that I've had tea, or whatever, and I'm not going to be leaving my motel room again until the following day - I bring them inside and keep them with me.

Think about it from a theft point of view. What is the safest way of keeping these from being stolen? Unoccupied motel rooms are more easy to sneak in unawares and go through people's belongings than a car boot - so the car is the better solution whilst you're not in your motel room.

And then, when you're staying in for the rest of the night, and you can put a latch on your motel room so it can only be opened from the inside and you are present, then it would be more difficult for someone to sneak in and steel them from the motel room than to break into your car and get them.

Makes perfect sense ... but, how does all of what you suggest ( and what I and many others do ) fit into / satisfy the regs.

Is a gun under the bed in a Motel room ( whilst you're on top ) .....meet the legal criteria concerning 'legal storage' ?

I know this may be construed as 'splitting hairs', but this is only one example of just how 'grey' the regulations seem to be and I DO NOT want to jeopardise my firearms licence / future enjoyment in the sport.

[AusTac]

I don't really take my guns out anywhere besides the range for this exact reason its dumb as

[bladeracer]

Not intending to hijack the discussion. But what if you went away for a month in the caravan? Keep it in the boot or under the bed in the van? Im in Victoria.

When we were travelling for several months last year I just bolted the gun safe into the bus.
When we were in WA two different LEO's warned me that having a firearm stolen from your vehicle WILL result in charges for not securing them adequately, and they stressed "regardless of the circumstances". WA sucks.

[bladeracer]

Makes perfect sense ... but, how does all of what you suggest ( and what I and many others do ) fit into / satisfy the regs.

Is a gun under the bed in a Motel room ( whilst you're on top ) .....meet the legal criteria concerning 'legal storage' ?

I know this may be construed as 'splitting hairs', but this is only one example of just how 'grey' the regulations seem to be and I DO NOT want to jeopardise my firearms licence / future enjoyment in the sport.

My understanding is that the storage requirements are for when it is at its "normal place of storage" for most days of the year. While you're travelling with your firearms they are not in "storage". I know WA has no regulations about secure travel, it's all covered by you "taking all possible measures to prevent them being stolen", their preferred measures being don't own any firearms or don't bring them to WA..

[Oldbloke]

"My understanding is that the storage requirements are for when it is at its "normal place of storage" for most days of the year. While you're travelling with your firearms they are not in "storage"

Thats my understanding for victoria. So you take other precautions.

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=36210 Below is from the vic police site.

Safekeeping of firearms when being transported in vehicles

The information below has been developed to provide firearm licence holders a guide on how firearms and ammunition should be transported in most circumstances.

While the guidelines are aimed at minimising risk, licence holders should consider all factors that may contribute to the firearms being transported in a manner that is not secure or in a way that presents a danger.

Police will treat each individual case on its merits and there may be circumstances where the guidelines are followed but criminal charges are still warranted if the overall security of the firearms are compromised due to aggravated circumstances.

For example if a firearm is securely stored in the trunk but the owner of the vehicle is driving the vehicle while intoxicated or speeding they might be considered to have compromised the security of the firearm. Additionally circumstances such as this may indicate that the firearm owner may not really understand the responsibilities required for proper firearm ownership.

In most circumstances firearms should be transported in the following manner:

Firearms should be transported in a padded cover or hard case, unloaded and preferably rendered inoperable;
While being transported, firearms and ammunition should be kept out of sight and stored in separate receptacles that are either secured to the inside of you vehicle or in a lockable component of your vehicle; and
Cartridge ammunition should be stored separately from the firearms in a part of the vehicle not readily accessible by an unauthorised person. A lockable glove box would suffice provided the key to the glove box is kept securely by the holder of the firearm licence and cannot be accessed by persons unauthorised to possess ammunition or firearms.
Licence holders should exercise a common sense approach to storage when transporting their firearms and be mindful of all of their obligations.

The advice above has been provided as a guide only and does not override storage requirements imposed by other regulatory frameworks. For example the storage requirements imposed under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 when hunting in a deer habitat.


NOTE: I understand that if the firearm is left alone with an unlicenced person in the car it would not be legal otherwise locked in the boot is ok. Trigger locks or locking the bolt in tbe ammo box might cover that situation, but not certain.

NOTE: Many regulations have areas that are "silent" and full compliance is very difficult to achieve. The firearms regs are no different in that regard. On some worksites/industries it can be a nightmare complying with the OHS requirements.

[doc]

Makes perfect sense ... but, how does all of what you suggest ( and what I and many others do ) fit into / satisfy the regs.

Is a gun under the bed in a Motel room ( whilst you're on top ) .....meet the legal criteria concerning 'legal storage' ?

I know this may be construed as 'splitting hairs', but this is only one example of just how 'grey' the regulations seem to be and I DO NOT want to jeopardise my firearms licence / future enjoyment in the sport.

PM Sent...

[Wobble]

Not intending to hijack the discussion. But what if you went away for a month in the caravan? Keep it in the boot or under the bed in the van? Im in Victoria.

Personally I'd want to build a locked steel receptacle of some sort built into it.

You won't get a vault into one, but just enough to keep out some random punk doing in a quick smash and search.

Travelling is one thing, surely you would get done for failing to secure it if you told the cops your rifle was hidden under the mattress for the last month and it got stolen.

[Lorgar]

Must be fate that this thread came up as I'm in the exact same position, heading to Vic in a couple weeks to shoot in a comp. I called Mildura Police this morning and I'm now waiting on someone from their firearms branch to get back to me.

Happy to store all your boom sticks while you're visiting... In exchange for a few rounds

[doc]

I'll report back once I hear from Vic Police.

Did you end up hearing back from them?