Free Republic

  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...

STREET crime is "running out of control" with  the number of muggings rising by more than 26% over the past nine months, according to internal Home Office figures.The increase, which has been accompanied by a sharp rise in the use of guns, has so alarmed Tony Blair that he has ordered one of his top Downing Street officials into the Home Office and Scotland Yard to try to sort out the crisis.He has instructed Professor Michael Barber, head of theNo 10 delivery unit, to draw up a blueprint for combating the crime wave. It is expected to be completed ...

Surging firearms sales after 9-11 briefly disarmed gun control efforts, but anti-gun lobbyists are now exploiting fears of terrorism to renew their attacks on the Second Amendment In the immediate aftermath of September 11th, many Americans, shocked by the fact that men armed with simple box-cutters had managed to cow entire planeloads of unarmed passengers and flight crews, began purchasing firearms in record numbers. Increased interest in firearms for self-defense prompted some analysts to declare gun control dead. Pro-gun commentator Michael S. Brown, for example, exulted that "gun shops are crowded with liberals seeking security in gun ownership." But reports ...