Reporting the theft of his guns has left a man and his son worse off after police found him to be in breach of gun storage requirements.
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Hay residents Harley Harvey, a 53-year-old professional kangaroo shooter, and son Kodie Harvey were slapped with the charges after police attended their properties while investigating reports of gun theft.
Harvey senior had informed police on Monday April 15 by way of signed statement that he had a firearm stolen from his residence sometime between April 4 and April 12.
They faced Griffith Local Court on June 26.
Police visited Harvey junior's residence at about 10.15am as they were told some of Harvey snr's firearms were being kept there.
The officers found Harvey jnr's storage failed to comply with the safe storage requirements in accordance with section 40 of the Firearms Act 1996.
They saw the safe had an exposed gap between the back of the safe and the wall, joined by screws. Police say these could have been cut "quite easily".
There were also no bolts to secure it to the floor, as required by the legislation. The firearms and his license were seized.
About 2pm police went back to Harvey snr to speak with him. Officers entered a rear shed where the firearm shed was located.
They determined this safe was also in breach of the requirements, seeing as screws attaching the safe to the wall were in timber, with no bolts fitted to the base of the safe. The firearms in the safe were seized, as was his gun license.
Both Harveys' licenses were suspended.
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The pair were represented by Piers Blomfield, who outlined the difficulties faced especially by Harvey snr whose livelihood depended on having a gun license.
"This is a man who derives his entire living from shooting," he told magistrate Joy Boulos.
He said the charges were at the lower end of objective seriousness, and considering both of them had unblemished criminal records, argued for a non-conviction for both of them.
Magistrate Boulos said while she took into consideration stellar character references for both, with the issues since remedied, the legislation was in place because it related heavily to public safety.
"The objectives of the Firearms Act make clear that people possessing firearms must store them safely and responsibility for the public's safety," she said.
Harvey junior was given a Community Corrections Order for 14 months, with Harvey snr the same for 12 months. Both were convicted of the charges.
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