New Zealand: Dealers doubt gun law

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Source: from Snowflakes in Hell to Taranaki Daily News

Tougher laws targeting the sale of high-powered air rifles will not stop criminals getting their hands on the weapons, say Taranaki gun dealers.

Police Minister Judith Collins announced this month that the Government planned to change the Arms Order to require anyone who bought or owned a pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle to hold a firearms licence.

The moves comes after undercover policeman Don Wilkinson and an east Auckland man were killed in separate incidents after being repeatedly shot with a PCP FX Monsoon semi-automatic air rifles.

New Plymouth gun dealer and owner of Ski and Sports Centre, Jeff Horn, said the law changes targeted the wrong people.

"They can make as many rules as they like, but do you think the criminals are going to abide by them?" Mr Horn said.

"The criminals are not going to run with them, they are going to abuse it. All it will do is impinge on is your normal citizen.

"We have not done one thing wrong but it is affecting us because a criminal has done something wrong."

Mr Horn, who does not stock the rifles but could order them in, said blaming the guns was the soft way out.

"It is easy for the politicians to say we are doing something about it but nothing will change.

"What if they hit him over the head with a baseball bat, would they be looking to ban baseball bats?"

Instead of new regulations on the sale of air rifles Mr Horn would like to see new laws aimed at violent criminals.

"It is not bad guns, it is not bad knives, it is not bad cars, it is the bad people that should be targeted," he said.

The type of air rifle used to kill Mr Wilkinson cost about $2500 and other less expensive weapons could be just as lethal in the wrong hands, Mr Horn said.

Taranaki Hunting and Fishing store owner Wayne Fairhurst didn't think the law changes would make much difference to criminals. "The wrong people will still acquire them," he said.

Mr Fairhurst did stock high-powered air rifles but said he sold only a couple a year.

Steve Corlett, patron of the North Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association, supported the law changes but doubted they would make much difference.

"I'm absolutely sure that it won't stop them getting them into the wrong hands," he said.

Some of the air rifles were extremely powerful, he said.

Mr Corlett said he would like to see the penalties for criminals using weapons increased.

Under the existing law, anyone over 18 can buy an air rifle without a firearms licence. Spring-loaded airguns, those powered by CO2 cartridges, BB and paintball guns would not be affected by the changes.

Regards