Can we clean our guns in an open garage? Is it legal?

Edit: Let me clarify, not pointing as in aiming at someone walking by. Just cleaning your barrel or something but they think you are pointing it at them. Maybe even just carrying your weapon in your open garage, they can visually see you holding it but not aiming it at them. Will cops take everything away from you and you have to prove it in court or will they say you are on private property so they can't do anything or at least without a warrant?

Reason why I ask is I wouldn't mind from time to time take a gun outside and spray it down in the driveway or go to a friends house and have a cleaning party in his garage. I want to try Balisol one day but for sure I'm not going to spray that in my house.

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Serious question. What do you think would happen if you were to point the gun towards the street and a person walks by. That person then calls the police on you. Do you think you would be arrested and your guns taken away until you prove you were just cleaning the guns?

Just wondering why you think that would be illegal?  As for pointing the gun at an open street with people, that's your responsibility lol

Just wondering why you think that would be illegal?  As for pointing the gun at an open street with people, that's your responsibility lol

I don't know the all the laws regarding guns. Is it legal because it's private property? With that being the case can I set up targets at my house and legally shoot them? Just wondering if anyone heard of a stranger turning them in for seeing someone hold a gun out in the open on their own property?

#1 - why do you want just anybody walking by the property to see what kind & how many guns you own while cleaning?

#2 - you can clean the guns anywhere on your own property.

#3 - the neighbors have the right to report you to the COPS if they feel the need.   

#4 - talking to the neighbors to explain you'll be cleaning guns outside for better ventilation could prevent misunderstandings and false alarms that waste the COP's time.

#5 - Consider certain scenarios.  If you have to run into the house for something, can you take them all into the house quickly?  Is there a chance a gun could be taken if you run in for another adult beverage?  Maybe by a minor?  That could be a crime, improperly storing firearms where minors can get to them unsupervised.

I don't know the all the laws regarding guns. Is it legal because it's private property? With that being the case can I set up targets at my house and legally shoot them? Just wondering if anyone heard of a stranger turning them in for seeing someone hold a gun out in the open on their own property?

There is a law regarding shooting within city limits not sure of exact wording

I'm no lawyer but shooting your firearms, even on your own property, could be viewed as reckless endangerment especially if there are homes, dwellings, or a city street in the general direction which you'd be shooting.  The 4th rule comes to mind in this scenario...be sure of your target and what's beyond it.

If you're worried about the fumes and stuff have you thought about cleaning your stuff at the range?  I used to before the days of non-toxic bio-friendly cleaning solutions.

There is a law regarding shooting within city limits not sure of exact wording

...not sure about Oahu county, but on the big island, there's nothing said in HRS or common law about 'city limits'.  Rather, the language prohibits discharging a firearm in a 'residential area'. What is that?  They don't define it for a reason.  And it is not - as many mistakenly assume - determined by the "Agricultural" or "Residential" zoning of your property.  It's all up to the responding officer's discretion if a complaint is called in. If the responding officer feels that the area in which you were discharging your firearm is a residential area then he can arrest you and sequester your weapons, among other things. The next consideration, if you get arrested, is whether or not the prosecutor wants to bring charges against you.  That would involve the prosecutor going to your property and making an assessment of the environment in which you were discharging a firearm.  If they feel that you were generally too close to a neighbors home or that the direction in which you were shooting was unsafe - relative to the location of the neighbors home or what is or isn't beyond where you were shooting - then they will file charges.  Other prosecutorial considerations are firearm type, power, bullet type, natural backstop or not, amount of undeveloped land downrange, etc.  Once again this is relatively arbitrary and completely up to the discretion of the prosecutor.  However, I would imagine with fair certainty that if what precipitated the officer visiting your property was a neighbor complaining that they heard a bullet HIT, or suddenly saw a bullet ON their property while you were shooting, you will surely get arrested.  It's always a gamble, but you can minimize the possibility of getting in trouble if you consider all these things and act wisely.

it's just like carrying in your own house.  if someone can see you with a gun, its probally illegal and you can be reported.  chances are if someone is scared enough, they may dispatch swat to knock down your door!  why not try to open carry and see what happens?  why insist on tempting the police to shoot you?  don't you realize where you live?  This isn't a free state like Arizona (god damn I did enjoy living there).

I clean my guns in my garage. I have the door half way shut though. I m not worried about legal ramifications, I just don't want everyone who passes by to see what I have. Same reason I don't invite strangers into my house. Most thieves know what's in a house before they break in.

Serious question. What do you think would happen if you were to point the gun towards the street and a person walks by. That person then calls the police on you. Do you think you would be arrested and your guns taken away until you prove you were just cleaning the guns?

play stupid games, win stupid prizes.  You already know what would happen. 

play stupid games, win stupid prizes.  You already know what would happen. 

Let me clarify, not pointing as in aiming at someone walking by. Just cleaning your barrel or something but they think you are pointing it at them. Maybe even just carrying your weapon in your open garage, they can visually see you holding it but not aiming it at them. Will cops take everything away from you and you have to prove it in court or will they say you are on private property so they can't do anything or at least without a warrant?

Reason why I ask is I wouldn't mind from time to time take a gun outside and spray it down in the driveway or go to a friends house and have a cleaning party in his garage. I want to try Balisol one day but for sure I'm not going to spray that in my house.

play stupid games, win stupid prizes.  You already know what would happen. 

Hahahaha  and why would u be pointing it at the street anyways. my theory out of sight out of mind

It would be wise to not allow your neighbors or those passing by to see your firearms. You never know who is a criminal. Many criminals also work on opportunity and you've just shown them that you own a firearm so they may make a future "appointment" to steal your stuff (without your knowledge, of course).

If you need to clean your stuff outside, get a cardboard box that's larger than your rifle or pistol. To clean your rifle in this large cardboard box, cut a hole on the side so you can insert your cleaning rod. You can use this same large box to easily clean your pistol. This technique allows you to conceal your rifle/pistol from those near your property.

Again, if you don't let people know what you have, then they won't know exactly what to steal from you. 

id worry more about people knowing you have firearms and trying to take them while youre not home.. oops repeated what was above lol

Serious question. What do you think would happen if you were to point the gun towards the street and a person walks by. That person then calls the police on you. Do you think you would be arrested and your guns taken away until you prove you were just cleaning the guns?

It depends on the person, but it can be interpreted as a threat/harassment..or maybe not.  It is really not a yes or no answer.  Personally, I wouldn't do it though.

Hmm, maybe it's best to take up a table at the range and clean my guns there. 

Hmm, maybe it's best to take up a table at the range and clean my guns there. 

lol, don't do that...

lol, don't do that...

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My friends and I used to clean our guns at the range all the time. You do it right at the firing line. Nothing wrong with that.
As long as you don't point a completely assembled firearm at your neighbor.