Kiwis could own nearly one million firearms - police
15 June 2002
Police estimate that New Zealanders could own nearly one million firearms, including 27,500 pistols.However, the actual number owned is not known because gun users only have to register automatic weapons, military-style semi-automatics and hand-guns. Police licencing and vetting manager Inspector Joe Green said about 27,500 pistols, 6800 military-style semi-automatic firearms and 3300 restricted weapons – a category that includes machineguns – were registered with police. There are about 230,000 gun licence holders, with nearly 4300 people – 100 more than last year – holding an endorsement allowing them to use military-style semi-automatic weapons. About 5600 – 600 more than last year – were endorsed to own pistols or restricted weapons as collectors, curators of museums, for theatrical purposes, as a momento or heirloom, or as members of competitive pistol and shooting clubs. Mr Green said some endorsement holders did not possess the weapon they were approved to use. This was especially the case with the military-style semi-automatics. He said obviously some possessed more than one weapon but it would take an individual search of each endorsement to work out. Some of the firearms were being held by dealers in "mid-transaction". Mr Green said the Thorp report on arms control released in 1997 guessed that there were about 3000 firearms held illegally in New Zealand. There had been imports since the "guestimate" but not in such numbers to alter it. The number of guns in the community was not the problem but how they were used, he said. Misuse for criminal purposes, or for suicide was always a tragedy. He still agreed with the Thorp report's conclusion that firearms were not a dominant feature of violence in New Zealand. Deer Stalkers Association president-elect Trevor Dyke said gun licence holders were responsible people. Crimes committed with firearms were by people without licences. Mr Dyke said only a small number of licences were revoked by police and many were related to non-molestation orders. It was automatic for weapons to be surrendered when a non-molestation order was granted. He believed that the media and public were realising that legitimate gun owners were not the "baddies". The police vetting process was thorough, and it was easy to get an impression of people's character from their referees. Coalition for Gun Control spokeswoman Carol Ann Bradford said she was disappointed that gun control was not considered a more important issue in New Zealand. Ms Bradford said it seemed the public only got worried when there was a mass killing. New Zealand needed stronger gun controls. She agreed that most licence holders were responsible and that it was those without licences that were more of a worry. People wanting to gain a gun licence have to offer the names of two referees and declare any criminal convictions or non-molestation orders against them, as well as any psychiatric treatment. Police check the information and whether an applicant can safely store firearms. Applicants are required to study the arms code, attend a lecture on firearm safety and get at least 28 of the 30 questions correct on the test given at the lecture. Collectors and film-makers owning restricted weapons like machineguns are required to use blanks or remove a vital working part of the gun. They also have to declare the purpose of the gun.
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