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Kiwis could own nearly one million firearms - police
The Dominion ^ | 15 June 2002 | unknown

Posted on 06/23/2002 12:05:44 PM PDT by eyes_only

 

STORY

WEDNESDAY, 19 JUNE 2002
      T O P   S T O R Y   
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.

 


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: banglist; firearms; kiwis
I did'nt see this posted when I searched - Got this link from ar15.com.

1 posted on 06/23/2002 12:05:45 PM PDT by eyes_only
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To: eyes_only
"Crimes committed with firearms were by people without licences."

Bears repeating -- and emailing -- to your favorite (i.e., most repulsive) gun-grabbing politicians.

2 posted on 06/23/2002 12:12:24 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
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To: eyes_only
"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."

Well la-tee-dah Ms. Bradford, perhaps you could find some other platform that will help the criminal.

3 posted on 06/23/2002 12:13:29 PM PDT by yoe
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To: eyes_only
Those Zoolanders do not need guns, not in their socialist land of Utopia. Ms Clark will see to their security and all their needs. Course now her bodyguards will need guns, there is a difference you know.
4 posted on 06/23/2002 12:20:42 PM PDT by cynicom
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To: *bang_list
It would be so nice if we could have at least some of the Freedoms that the New Zealanders have. They can own an FN M90! Try that here in the states!!!!!
5 posted on 06/23/2002 12:30:42 PM PDT by vannrox
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To: eyes_only
"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."

What, no mention of the use of self-defense? Geez, my guns come in very handy for this purpose.

6 posted on 06/23/2002 12:37:15 PM PDT by mn_b_one
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To: eyes_only
New Zealand: 4 million people, 60 million sheep and 1 million guns. Not bad statistics.
7 posted on 06/23/2002 12:53:37 PM PDT by Canuck1
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To: Canuck1
Fencepost notice: Don't mess with my sheep or else you will find out just who in the family is the best shot!
8 posted on 06/23/2002 1:32:48 PM PDT by B4Ranch
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To: Canuck1
poor sheep :(
9 posted on 06/23/2002 1:43:19 PM PDT by Blackyce
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To: cynicom
Did somebody say Zoolander?
Zoolander
There has got to be more to life than just being really, really, really, ridiculously good-looking.

10 posted on 06/23/2002 2:02:15 PM PDT by the
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To: eyes_only

11 posted on 06/23/2002 2:13:36 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
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To: eyes_only
So..... If licensed gun owners are not the problem, why not have everyone that doesn't own a gun register with the police department.

This would solve at least four problems at one time.

1. There are far fewer people that don't own guns than there people who do own guns. Alot of needless paperwork would be eliminated.

2. The police would know who were "defenseless" so they could respond to their calls in a higher priority.

3. The police would have names of all those criminals who don't own guns, that they don't have access through registration.

4. The criminals would know the homes that were not protected, so they target those homes to commit robbery, this would allow the police to corral them into manageable territories.

12 posted on 06/23/2002 9:35:55 PM PDT by ODDITHER
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To: eyes_only
"Police estimate that New Zealanders could own nearly one million firearms, including 27,500 pistols."

That's a start...

13 posted on 06/24/2002 9:43:29 AM PDT by Redbob
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

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