Police Wrap - 19 May

Some people break in and find where the key is hidden. I dont think there is any law about hiding the key in a perfect location as long as its not near the safe. So they ransack the house and find the key. Also they can be broken into if you use a huge crowbar but it would make a huge noise from what i saw on youtube.

Mind you, the idea that 1 in every 50 drivers around me is sozzled is a bit worrying.

1,593 positives out of 81,784 tests is actually a slight (probably insignificantly so) improvement on last years 1,584 positives out of 81,124 tests.

“16 (38%) had at least one previous drink-driving conviction, with one driver having three previous convictions.”

Now that is a surprise considering how hard the courts are on them……NOT.
How about they start confiscating the cars of drink drivers as well as their licence and at least make it harder for them to re-offend. That might make them think twice.

peterh said :

CK, I am not disputing that neanderthalsis’ solution was wrong, I was making the observation of what i would do if I ever returned my firearms to my property, and removed them from the club. The fact that the teenagers were able to secure these weapons whilst in the property suggests that the firing mechanisms were either in close proximity or actually fitted into the firearms – not separately stored. In order to reduce the opportunity of a thief leaving my residence with a fully working firearm, i would make it as difficult as possible for them. the Legal storage requirements do need to be examined, however it may lead to another clamping down of home storage – in favour of a club only storage requirement. And that is not of benefit to anyone outside the operating hours of the club.

The AFP media release doesn’t actually say whether the teens in question had the bolts as well. So we don’t know whether the little miscreants had complete and working rifles or a useless lump of wood and metal.

Agreed though, PeterH, the firing mechs are best stored elsewhere in a locked container away from the rifle itself, although not always possible with some firearms.

Clown Killer said :

I think that neanderthalsis has provided a very comprehensive post on what IS required of licensed gun owners under the applicable laws – I don’t see much point in pontificating about what might be a workable alternative.

The proper place for guns to be stored is where they are stored according to the law. That can be at a gun club or at a private residence or business.

The police will have no problem in laying charges against the owner of guns if they are stolen whilst not properly secured. This present instance may demonstrate a flaw in the requirements for storage, given that it seems three teenagers were able to get their hands on the guns despite the storage requirements being in place – but that is an issue to do with the law, not a failure of the owner of the guns.

CK, I am not disputing that neanderthalsis’ solution was wrong, I was making the observation of what i would do if I ever returned my firearms to my property, and removed them from the club. The fact that the teenagers were able to secure these weapons whilst in the property suggests that the firing mechanisms were either in close proximity or actually fitted into the firearms – not separately stored. In order to reduce the opportunity of a thief leaving my residence with a fully working firearm, i would make it as difficult as possible for them. the Legal storage requirements do need to be examined, however it may lead to another clamping down of home storage – in favour of a club only storage requirement. And that is not of benefit to anyone outside the operating hours of the club.

I think that neanderthalsis has provided a very comprehensive post on what IS required of licensed gun owners under the applicable laws – I don’t see much point in pontificating about what might be a workable alternative.

The proper place for guns to be stored is where they are stored according to the law. That can be at a gun club or at a private residence or business.

The police will have no problem in laying charges against the owner of guns if they are stolen whilst not properly secured. This present instance may demonstrate a flaw in the requirements for storage, given that it seems three teenagers were able to get their hands on the guns despite the storage requirements being in place – but that is an issue to do with the law, not a failure of the owner of the guns.

recreational shooters can also store their firearms at a club, and pick it up on the way to a hunt. if gun safes are to be used in a home environment, they should have 3 separate safes – 1 for the firing mechanism, 1 for the ammunition and one much further away for the weapon. This will ensure that if a firearm is stolen, the time taken to locate and identify the firing mechanisms / ammo & reassemble the rifle will be greater. An additional precaution that should be mandatory for all shooters with weapons is a back to base security system, so as to ensure that the theft is able to be detected quickly and dealt with by the authorities.

Posh said :

Everything seems to happen in Wanniassa – however I’m a bit concerned that the ‘appropriately stored’ bit and also why would one person have 7 firearms in suburbia? Who licenses these people?

Believe it or not Posh, some people shoot recreationally, and different disciplines require different types of firearms.

Also, “stored appropriately” means:

If not more than 10 category A or category B firearms are stated in
the licence:
(a) the firearms must be stored in a metal lockable container and
the firing mechanisms must be stored in a separate lockable
metal drawer or container that may be external or internal to
the metal lockable container; or

(b) the firearms must be stored in a security container that is
constructed of a recognised hardwood and lined with steel
sheeting, the door of which is fitted with metal hinges and
either:
(i) an appropriate deadlock; or
(ii) 2 sliding bolts fitted with padlocks of an appropriate
strength.

(3) If a container mentioned in subsection (2) (other than a container for firing mechanisms) weighs less than 150kg when empty, it must be fixed to the floor or wall with no fewer than 2 appropriate anchor bolts.

Also, under the Firearms Act, Police have the power to conduct storage inspections without consent of the licence holder.

ant said :

Posh said :

Everything seems to happen in Wanniassa

Because it’s near Kambah.

oh, ha ha, ant. why am I not surprised?

best place to have firearms “appropriately stored” is in a gun safe at a gun club. what perfectly good reason would someone have to keep their rifles in their home? Those days are long gone.