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Dedicated to Keeping New Zealand Cleaner and Greener!
POLICE CALL OUT! ROGER'S IN BIG TROUBLE!!!!!
February 09th 2007 - Updated
February 20th 2007
I'd just had to sell my best rifle to pay for replacing my prescription glasses that I lost at Parachute '07 - where I spent the weekend as a volunteer on the traffic control team (that was ONE expensive weekend for me!). Fortunately my old friend and new shooting buddy Big Sam bought the rifle off me. I'm more than happy that it's gone to such a good home! Anyway, Sam and his dad George decided to arrange a bit of a possum shoot at a place they'd been doing some building work at in Kumeu - with permission from the owners. I decided to buy some extra ammo to take on the shoot, especially since we were going to do some target shooting before hand.
I went to Westgate on my motor bike and bought the bullets and some 'scope rings'. Okay - impulse buy, I also bought a 2 to 7 Sharp Scope for my Take Down Marlin!
Saw a very confusing Bumper Sticker on a 4WD outside the shop, it said: 'I got a rifle for my wife - thought it was a good swap!' I have no idea what this means... ;-)
Anyway, I didn't take a back pack with me like I normally do, so I had to stuff the plastic bag of goodies down my shirt front while I rode home.
You guessed it! On the motorway the bullets fell out of the bag and smashed onto the motorway! I immediately knew I was in trouble, stopped my bike and called 111. I assured them the bullets would not explode, but that they needed to get them off the road. In the photo, they hit the road just passed the Waitakere City Exits sign, in the middle of the bridge on the closest left lane - heading towards the exit from WestGate.
Five minutes later while I was waiting, three of the bullets detonated when cars drove over them! I called 111 again and screamed, 'Close down the motorway NOW!!!' (I found all three bullets, they didn't do any damage.)
Man, I knew I was in REAL trouble now! To cut a long story short, six police cars, two police bikes and a small army of police came running, closed off the motorway for 30 minutes while we collect the ammo. Then a 'Road Sweeper' truck cleaned the lanes.
I was waiting for the Armed Defender Squad to come as well!!! :-(
Now I'm waiting for the fine to come in the post! It made the Teletext and Radio news. Somehow I don't like being a celebrity though. It was a stupid accident that I regret. However, it was quite an adventure!!!
The bad news - I dropped 100 bullets, and only
found 78!!!! (Actually, don't worry - the remaining fell into the
salt water and are completely dead!) The road, grass and verge were completely
searched for any remaining ammo, and - as I said, the road thoroughly
swept clean. The police did an excellent job, were very prompt and efficient.
They treated me with respect and dignity, even though I felt about two inches
tall!!! Fortunately the scope didn't fall out of the bag. The
'rings' did, and were run over many times, leaving tyre marks on them. They
still work, and I thought of painting them back to original, but then thought,
'I'll leave them with tyre marks on
them, it's original, interesting, and has
quite a dramatic story behind them!' I was texting my friends during
all this drama, and Sara, one of the young ladies in our church/youth group
responded with a text that seems to describe the whole event. It was only two
words: 'Only you...!'
FOR SALE:
78 slightly damaged (empty) .22 LR Subsonic Bullets. Interesting and exciting history!
.
I Thought of listing them on Trade Me, $5 for one bullet (FULLY EMPTY OF ALL GUN POWDER AND COMPLETELY SAFE!) mounted on coloured card, with print out of Radio Report and Police Fine (When it arrives). Got too much agro from a couple of people, so decided to hand them into the Arms Officer at Henderson Police station for them to dispose of instead.
Got a call from the officer who took all my details at the motorway, informing me that they will have to prosecute, and this will mean a court appearance too. I'm not too happy about either of those two ideas! He was really nice to me though, even giving me his phone number so I can contact him when a hearing date is set, and he offered to come to court to support me.
Just received a notification of prosecution in the letter box today, and now are waiting for the court summons.
Apparently, someone else who I won't name - went for a shoot last weekend, took his magazine out of his new rifle, placed it with 200 rounds of ammo in a bag, then left it on the top of the car and drove off!!!
Had him come to me at his sisters wedding on Sunday (that I officiated at), asking if I know where he can buy a new mag from!!!!
When it rains, it pours!