cleaning my gun in the backyard

[fred40]

is this legal?

[Knight]

Sure it is, but it's also legal for your neighbors to freak out and call 911. If your neighbors are chill, or you don't mind the off-chance of the police stopping by, then I don't see why not.

I used to clean guns in my backyard when I lived with my parents, however most of their yard is well concealed.

[fred40]

thats the problem. the neighbor has a 2 story house with a balcony, sometimes he goes out and smokes a cigarette. I like cleaning them outside better ventilation.

[Knight]

thats the problem. the neighbor has a 2 story house with a balcony, sometimes he goes out and smokes a cigarette. I like cleaning them outside better ventilation.

Yeah, that makes it a tough decision; I don't really think anyone can tell you what is the right thing to do based on your specific situation and your own personal convictions. Just weigh your options carefully.

[Army]

Invite your neighbor shooting. When you get home, invite him over for a smoke and cleaning session in the back yard!

[oaklander]

I generally clean my guns at the range. That way when I get home, I just pop 'em in the safe.

[mothergreen]

if you can carry your gun on your hip while on your property you can do anything.. heck I'm pretty sure you can run around your backyard nude .. doesn't mean your neighbors will be happy with you but you can do it.

[oaklander]

if you can carry your gun on your hip while on your property you can do anything.. heck I'm pretty sure you can run around your backyard nude .. doesn't mean your neighbors will be happy with you but you can do it.

The issue isn't whether it is legal (it is) the issue is whether someone might call the cops.

[mothergreen]

oh, well in that case yeah but then that person has the right to get bitched at by the cops for wasting their time.

[762cavalier]

In my experience,especially with rifles, If you simply take it out of the stock and work on just the barreled action most people won't even know what you are cleaning. i have decosmoed several Mosins out in the FRONT yard this way with people walking by. If it doesn't look like a gun, no harm done

[ocabj]

If I don't clean at the range before I leave, I clean in the privacy of the garage. I'll crack the side door open and open the garage door slightly to get some air flow going.

[Rascal]

I always clean my rifles in the back yard. The neighbors can bitch all they want. I don't care. There is no law that says you can't, and the cops can come all they want. They can't do anything about it. I will be more than happy to explain to the cops that I am well within my rights to do this, and I'll see them next week, when I do it again. Maybe I'll buy some donuts so they can have something to eat while they watch me clean.

[Rob P.]

I clean in the garage with the big door open. I have had my whole arsenal in there at times in plain view. Who cares.

If the cops come by (never have), they're able to walk up the driveway and look inside. Once they see I'm not doing anything illegal they can leave. End of story.

Of course my neighbors are used to me doing this and seeing me carrying my sidearm everyday so it's no big deal to them. Even the kids walking by on their way home from the school bus stop don't seem to care. No one looks, no one screams, and no cops so far.

ONE caveat! NO AMMO. EVER! Not even if it's "over there". If you're cleaning you're not shooting so you shouldn't need ammo present. Lots of ND's have happened because someone was cleaning a firearm and then loaded it. Then they decided to "try out" the assembled action forgetting it was loaded. NEVER EVER have ammo around when cleaning. (Besides, having ammo present could bring complications on having a "loaded" weapon in public. It's not unless it's in/on the gun but being arrested for it won't be fun.)

[smogcity]

If you have to ask the question, the answer is don't do it. Being young and not knowing your neighbors personaly will only lead to a 911 call reporting a "terrorist type in camo building machine guns!!!"

[redneckshootist]

In my experience,especially with rifles, If you simply take it out of the stock and work on just the barreled action most people won't even know what you are cleaning. i have decosmoed several Mosins out in the FRONT yard this way with people walking by. If it doesn't look like a gun, no harm done

very true, Ive taken barreled recivers in to hardware stores looking for screws, roll pins, ect. and nobody even knows that is part of a gun