Are Firearms more readily available in NZ to obtain

[Matt S]

Tell us what you think about Firearm laws in NZ. Is it too easy for the wrong people to obtain an A CAT B CAT etc......

[JD Kid]

i would question how many of the "wrong" type of people  have  A CAT B CAT etc etc
like the old saying outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns   ya just have to look at the UK   on paper only the "right " kinda people  should have firearms  thats not the case  ..
one would also have to question what happened to all the SLR's the army sold years ago    ..
i think the laws as they stand  work   in 99.99999999% of the cases   yes has we have seen  over the last few days  0.000000001%  did happen but were they not stolen firearms  ? ..

[Adrian]

You are never going to stop the wrong people getting there hands on guns and you can't judge people by there looks, i know i am one of those people who get judged by my tattoo's everyday.

[Ray Exe]

Is it too easy for the wrong people to obtain licences? Well, it depends upon what you mean by 'the wrong people'. I suspect that such a judgement is usually made only in retrospect, when it's too late. How do you reliably select the 'right' people, and who would make the judgement? Road deaths are a bigger problem than illegal guns - do 'the wrong people' find it too easy to get driving licences?

Gun crime in UK has increased ten-fold since the almost-complete handgun ban. Politicians were quick to be seen to be doing something, so they 'banned' handguns. Problem was, the idiots forgot that, generally, criminals don't take too much notice of legislation. A friend in UK, who is interested in antique arms and black-powder shooting, is constantly in conflict with a totally obstructive bureaucracy. I gather illegal guns are easily obtained in UK, if you move in the right (wrong) circles, and, of course, are completely free from any obstructive bureaucratic interference.

I think the results speak for themselves. Gun crime in NZ is not common, but legal gun ownership is widespread. Gun crime in UK is common, but legal gun ownership is rare. If you drive gun ownership underground, you have an impossible problem.

[Matt S]

My concern is that the idiots who flaunt the laws or dont care (ie.Jan Molena) it will be a knee jerk reaction by the Govenment to those "tree huggers" who want to push the issue making it harder for "us" to get our endorsments, let alone purchase a Firearm.

I have heard in the media reports that the Government are looking at amendments to the Arms Act.

[Ray Exe]

Yes, agreed. One licensed rotten apple makes us all look like potential psychopaths in the eyes of the sheeple, lead by vote-hungry, ignorant and amoral politicians.

It looks like, world-wide, private gun ownership is under a real threat from death by a thousand cuts. However, there may be hope, long term, in NZ because such a large proportion of the population legally owns guns, and so many have a real need for their guns (farmers, hunters, etc.). The problem is that it is rather difficult to justify gun ownership 'for fun'. If the general population accepts it, that's good, but if politicians decide that gun ownership should be restricted to those who use one 'professionally' (I don't mean criminals!), I don't think we can count on much support from the general public (the sheeple). Since sporting arguments seem to trump everything here in NZ, perhaps the Olympic argument should be used - so get along to the ISSF ranges and train, train, train!

[Cosmik de Bris]

My concern is that the idiots who flaunt the laws or dont care (ie.Jan Molena) it will be a knee jerk reaction by the Govenment to those "tree huggers" who want to push the issue making it harder for "us" to get our endorsments, let alone purchase a Firearm.

I have heard in the media reports that the Government are looking at amendments to the Arms Act.

Firearms Act Amendment number 3 has been before parliament for some time now, over a year. Perhaps there will be more urgency to have it passed now. There isn't a lot in it to concern most of us. Most of it is tidying up wording and making NZ compliant with the UN trafficking laws. The only real changes are having to have a FAL for some air guns, making body armour a restricted item, and you need to have a Dealers license to manufacture parts for or modify weapons for profit.

See the bill here:
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/0/7/4/00DBHOH_BILL6590_1-Arms-Amendment-Bill-No-3.htm

[El Prez]

A little something from years gone by.

[mikey]

You are never going to stop the wrong people getting there hands on guns and you can't judge people by there looks, i know i am one of those people who get judged by my tattoo's everyday.

Adrian mate, you hardly got any tattoos... check this hottie out:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/2417045/Check-out-those-tattoos


Mike.

[Pat M]

I think that getting more police and soldiers into the club could be a good move. With a well run club like ours, the word will get back to the powers that be that we are OK. Literally, having a voice on the inside.
I also agree that the club is the best form of vetting possible.

[David Proud]

Being relatively new to Pistol shooting, (just over a year), I found the process easy - just takes time.

Once my B & E cat arrived - the shopping was easy.

[Gavin Melville]

You should try getting either if we didn't like the look of you. Of course in your case David, the substantial cash contribution didn't hurt.    Seriously though, it's not as automatic as it seems. I can't speak for all clubs, but in ChCh is unlikely a "problem" would get through the probation process. We have turned down both B endorsements and applications for permits to procure in recent weeks, and will continue to do so.

Please don't think pistols are too easy to get. Rifles and Shotguns - another story entirely. 

[David Proud]

Yes , I recall your comment about a prospective new member who wanted advice on slecting a pistol which would aid concealment.

I guess in my mind, so long as you are not a nutter, pshyco, violent etc - then getting your B & E shouldn't be too difficult.

Of course - like the Napier nutter (I won't honor him by mentioning his name) - then they can be stolen or purchased illegally (not good).

On a side note - Gavin, whats the chance of getting a roof over one of the ranges - this rain doesn't want to stop 

[Matt S]

Lets go underground, with baffels.

We could then record music, CPC IPSC's greatest hits 2009........................................................

[Adrian]

MAN have i got some catching up to do, she must have to much $$,