Carrying guns in the car

[Gully]

Anyone know what the law is regarding carrying shotguns in a car? Do they have to be in a secured slip?

 

I've had a look and its illegal to carry a loaded shotgun in a public place but no mention of unloaded in a car (or anywhere else).

 

I was going to go out with three guns at the weekend but I only had 2 slips. Am I OK to wrap one in a blanket or something? They'll be put in the car on private land and taken out of the car on private land. I suppose the problem is if the car breaks down or something and has to be towed to a garage.

 

Any ideas?

[Oly]

So long as they are not left unattended or in clear view you should be fine.

[OldBill]

Anyone know what the law is regarding carrying shotguns in a car? Do they have to be in a secured slip?

 

I've had a look and its illegal to carry a loaded shotgun in a public place but no mention of unloaded in a car (or anywhere else).

 

I was going to go out with three guns at the weekend but I only had 2 slips. Am I OK to wrap one in a blanket or something? They'll be put in the car on private land and taken out of the car on private land. I suppose the problem is if the car breaks down or something and has to be towed to a garage.

 

Any ideas?

 

Your car IS considered to be a public place.

 

No extra security is required but you are expected to cover them from sight. As far as the slip issue goes, it does not have to be a formal slip but must be carried / fastened in such a way that it cannot be fired. A blanket may well achieve that but it's likely to but the wind up some people!

[Gully]

Thanks guys. Obviously they'll be out of sight etc. I have a rifle slip that's too short for a shotty that I sometimes use - wasn't sure about it being open at the ends.

[Lancs Lad]

Suggest that you break it down.....Put one set of barrels in the slip that you are carrying.

 

That way if your car gets "broken into" at least your gun is not useable...

 

You could also fit a "computer cable lock" fitted into the boot of the car that can also be used to slide through the trigger mechanism which makes it a bit more "safe".........

 

However, I can often be seen taking the gun into tescos after I have been out................One thing that I dont do is leave it in the car..........

[paulstjm]

A supplementary question if I may – what about a fitted gun safe in the car – can it be left unattended (e.g. car park of shooting grounds)

[08shooter]

in n ireland it has to be in a locked box in the said vehicle, namely the boot.i have heard of guys having their guns taken off them and certificates revoked for being stopped with the gun lying open on the back seat whilst they were driving.

[OldBill]

A supplementary question if I may – what about a fitted gun safe in the car – can it be left unattended (e.g. car park of shooting grounds)

 

There are no rules about vehicle safety strangley enough..only guidelines. If you leave firearms in a vehicle you are supposed to cover 'em- that's it!

 

However, if they are nicked and you can't show that you've done all you can to prevent it you'll lose your ticket(s). Better "safe" than sorry

[henry d]

Is your car a public place on private land though

[mr_colt]

I would recommend going for a hard Rifle/shotgun case. Doskosport double cases are probably your best bet as they have a "egg-carton" type foam lining which prevents ur guns from moving about inside the case. I think u might even be able to fit 3 shotties into a double case if u broke them down but don't quote me on this.

 

The cases are secured with 4 padlock points as well as strong hinged clasps to secure the thing shut even unlocked. You could technically also use one of the padlock sites to attach a steel cable through to secure it to the vehicle. The cases are plain rectulangular and non-descript, covering it with blankets would render it invisible as its shape will probably fit most boots quite snugly.

 

mr_colt.

[OldBill]

Is your car a public place on private land though

 

If it's not being used, probably not if the land is the garden where your house is. If parked up where you go shooting, definately is. A public place can be on private land!

[markbivvy]

If parked up where you go shooting, definately is. A public place can be on private land!

 

then the law is an *** mr bummble.

[tulkyuk]

With the stupid right to roam laws now in place, even private land is now public

[Dave-G]

There are very few "right to roam" areas in the UK. That term is often used as a blag by the uneducated to the uneducated.

 

Looky here: ramblers.org.uk

[OldBill]

Right to roam is nothing to do with public place. A public place is defined in law as being anywhere to which the public have ACCESS whether on payment or otherwise.

 

There's a a whole list of court caselaw of what is and what isn't a public place, but a farmers "private" land is public; but for instance, a well fenced golf course with signs displayed saying private property probably would not be as long as there was no inferred access such as being open to the general public. That would mean gated access etc.

 

I hope this helps.

[al4x]

Is your car a public place on private land though

 

I've got two local examples of actual carse where guns were stolen from cars.

 

1:- At a clay shoot gun was behind the seats in a locked alarmed pickup on private land, ****** put the window in and stole the gun and the owner did get to keep his ticket as reasonable precautions had been made and it was parked on private land.

 

2:- Guy drives to the pub after shooting and the same happens gun stolen from car and due to being a place with public access and not deemed to be taking reasonable precautions he had his ticket taken.

 

These were both in Herts so it may differ round the country but to me says if you're on private land and have good reason to have the gun with you but if not then it can get tricky.

[henry d]

Is your car a public place on private land though

These were both in Herts so it may differ round the country but to me says if you're on private land and have good reason to have the gun with you but if not then it can get tricky.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, the situation I was thinking about was whilst lamping.

Sometimes I will have .222, .22lr & shotgun in my motor and at times have jumped out of the motor to cut off a predator who is trying to circle me and I lock the car behind me. This is in Scotland and our access laws, as I think I have them, say that a field is private but there is access to the margins.

The likelyhood of me even seeing anyone else out here is negligible so I was only curious.

[OldBill]

H,

 

You are quite right Scottish law is is slightly different. I've copied some legislation from "the manual" as below. I'm not going to say for sure, but some on here are serving coppers in Scotland and they must be able to help, but (to me) it seem as though the definitions are the same for public place.

 

 

In accordance with section 16 of the Public Order Act 1986 and section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, 'public place' is defined as follows:

 

public place means-

 

(A) any highway, or in Scotland any road within the meaning of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, and

(B ) any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission.

 

(iii) In accordance with section 57(4) of the Firearms Act 1968, the definition of public place is the same as in section 9(1) above (public place includes any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise).

[kdubya]

H,

 

You are quite right Scottish law is is slightly different. I've copied some legislation from "the manual" as below. I'm not going to say for sure, but some on here are serving coppers in Scotland and they must be able to help, but (to me) it seem as though the definitions are the same for public place.

 

 

In accordance with section 16 of the Public Order Act 1986 and section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, 'public place' is defined as follows:

 

public place means-

 

(A) any highway, or in Scotland any road within the meaning of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, and

(B ) any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission.

 

(iii) In accordance with section 57(4) of the Firearms Act 1968, the definition of public place is the same as in section 9(1) above (public place includes any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise).

 

 

so that means the boot of a locked car is NOT a public place, your definition states to which they have PERMITTED access

I would suggest that after every clay shoot in every county, be it league night or whatever, guns ARE left in cars whilst the owners have a meal / drink whatever, and surely if say a car was nicked would the intent not be to steal the car and the gun was an "extra" if you took not being able to leave your gun in the boot of your car LOCKED OUT OF SIGHT litterally, you would not be able to stop for a s&*"e, pee , drink, food, petrol, ANYTHING, totally unreasonable and so would the loss of any ticket for having a car nicked that just happened to have a gun "locked" in the boot.

cheers KW

[OldBill]

If you leave 'em locked in your car whilst in the pub having a meal, drink or whatever and the car gets nicked you may lose your ticket. An old habit of mine from the mob- my guns are either locked up at home, being cleaned or with me ALL of the time otherwise. Inc going shopping, calling in the bank (yes, really).

 

As for the public place with cars, that case law is well established- A motor vehicle is a public place...unless you live in it

[OldBill]

I understand your feelings and what you are thinking, however this matter is well established in case law. It's not my own interpretation.