,,, their status is "endangered".
Kiwi, what is the status of citizens owning guns in Kiwi land? You have to have a gun licence, which entails having thorough background and character checks. It's not really a big thing over here - not protected by the constitution (we don't have one anyway!). Although, you'd think it's be an issue, quite a few Maori sold their land to the Brits for a couple of muskets, you'd think they would have insisted on protection for their right to use the things!
But seriously...although I'm not an expert on gun law in the US or NZ, it's safe to say we're a lot stricter. A guy recently got convicted of supplying a gun to a minor when he let his son keep his air rifle in his room and the only supervision was that he ask before he used it. The case is on appeal ... I will keep you posted, but I think the law backs this conviction up (just a demonstration of how strict we are).