Manjimup man fined for storing three loaded shotguns in safe after hunting fox which killed his chooks

A Manjimup man has pleaded guilty for keeping three shotguns loaded in his gun safe after using them to hunt the fox that killed his chickens. Luke Robert Beebe pleaded guilty to incorrectly storing firearms and ammunition during his appearance at Manjimup Magistrate’s Court last Thursday. Police attended Beebe’s Boorara Brook property on September 20 on a separate matter when they found the loaded shotguns. The court heard Beebe dumped the three loaded shotguns into his gun safe when he heard a car pull into his driveway. Beebe’s lawyer Derek Hunter said Beebe knew the car in his driveway contained a family with children and thought the safest option was to leave the loaded shotguns in a shut safe, rather than unload them with children present. Mr Hunter said Beebe regularly shoots foxes and was using the shotguns that day to hunt the fox that killed his chickens the night before. Further explaining Beeb’s situation, Mr Hunter said the police arrived while the family was still present which was why the guns were still loaded. Police charged Beebe with failing to comply with firearm or ammunition storage requirements. Mr Hunter requested a suspended sentence. Magistrate Linda Keane said she did not accept the reason for Beebe leaving his guns loaded. “I don’t know why three firearms are required in the circumstances,” she said. “I’m not familiar (with hunting) myself but I don’t accept the explanation. “I don’t accept how the circumstances came to be.” Ms Keane denied Mr Hunter’s request of a suspended sentence and issued Beebe a $400 fine and ordered him to pay $264.30 in court costs.