Yeah, that's what the law says but the police have put out a pamphlet like the thumbhole stocks one. I believe that on this poster it says pistols are exempt. It also says that airsoft, paintball and some low powered air-rifles are exempt. It doesn't tell you how to determine whether your rifle is exempt or not. It's another of the police interpreting the law thing, like the stocks. I think the intention is to exempt target rifles. They also mention the dangerous semi-auto air-rifle, but there are only two that I know of around NZ. Look at 5 and 8.
Arms (Restricted Weapons and Specialty Dangerous Airguns) Amendment Order
2010
1. Taking effect on 15 October 2010 this amendment to the Arms (Restricted Weapons and Specially Dangerous Air-guns) Order 1984 will declare pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles (excluding airguns used in airsoft and paintball sports) as a class of specially dangerous airgun which means that they will become subject to the same licensing regime and import controls as firearms [The definition of firearm in the Arms Act 1983 includes "any specially dangerous airgun”]
Implementation / enforcement
2. This means that people who possess a PCP air rifle (other than airguns used In airsoft and patntball sports) will be required to hold a firearms licence
3. Police will initially adopt an educative approach. Owners of PCP air rifles who do not have a firearms licence will be given three months (until 14 January 2011) to either:
• obtain a firearms licence (see
http://www,policegovt.nz/service/firearms which sets out this process and cost fees will not be waived) or
dispose of the air rifle by either:
o selling or giving it to someone with a firearms licence (including a licensed dealer), or
o handing it in to Police (without compensation).
4. Target shooters who use PCP air rifles will need to either:
apply for a firearms licence, or
arrange for appropriate supervision, and storage.
Key Messages
5. PCP air rifles have gained popularity in New Zealand, because they are light, accurate and have senui-automatic capability. They are usually filled from an air reservoir, such as a diving cylinder, or by charging directly with a hand pump.
6. PCP air rifles are capable of causing serious injury or death. There have been instances of their fatal use by offenders including the murder of a police officer in 2008.
7. Classifying these air rifles as specially dangerous airguris will ensure that the airguns that can cause the greatest harm and those that are generally sought by the criminal community, are subject to the firearms licensing regime This means that owners must be fit and proper persons to own a PCP air rifle, have minimum storage arrangements and complete safety training This also allows Police to work with Customs to control the importation of PCP air rifles.
8. The Amendment excludes PCP air pistols and a wide range of other lower powered airguris, which do not cause the same problems, including airguns used for airsoft and painthall sports.
