Some thirty years ago anyone with a slight interest or need for firearms might own a rifle or a shotgun for an occasional back-country visit - deer or pig hunting or 'bunnie-busting'. It was in no way startling to pass a young lad on a bike with his rifle on a sling, riding down to the nearest braided river-bed for an hour or two of pest control in the fresh air, potting rabbits and possums for dog tucker.
Now, as a result of deliberately obstructive laws - and regulations that seriously restrict anyone wishing to enjoy the green and healthy outdoors shooting sports - the possession of guns is now generally focussed into a group at either end of the behavioural scales. To legally own and use firearms requires a degree of determined effort, patience, and expense - and is dependent on the willingness of others to declare in writing to the police that they support the applicants wish to have guns.
Folk who navigate through the process to gain their licence will have been safety-trained & certified, investigated, photographed, vouched-for by close family and independent referees, and will have installed permanent approved security in their homes.
They will be free of any mental health or anger management issues. - They will not associate with "unsuitable persons" - and will be free from problems with drugs or alcohol, and will be useful members of society. - And they will have expressed no intent to use a firearm for self-defence. The NZ Police Arms Code states: "Self-defence is not a valid reason to possess firearms."
All NZ Firearms Licence Holders have been declared by the Police to be Fit And Proper to own and use Firearms. Any license holder having additional Endorsements to use 'Restricted Weapons' will have undergone further even more intensive investigation - will have installed even stronger security safes in their home, and will be living with clear restrictions to their use of this classified firearm and ammunition, and will be subject to both planned and suprise visits to ensure their ongoing compliance with the regulations.
At the other end of the scale are the lawless bottom layer of society who completely ignore all gun laws, - to be the biggest drain on society that they can manage. They prey on the unarmed law-abiding and vulnerable. These 'wastes-of-space' are a constant source of violence, tragic loss, and expense, and fill our Justice and Penal systems to overflowing. I personally am aware of one such thug whos avocation was (is?) to haunt shopping malls seeking small asian women to follow home and attack and steal anything of value - knowing that they can't resist his 100kg (220lb) assault and that their cash and property would pay for his next "tinnie" and drinks.
Gang Members and associates, - predators and sociopaths - 'meth cooks' and junk dealers, violent nutters. - All take what they can and give nothing but trouble in return.
No doubt many of these predators are 'sick' and worthy of treatment - once removed as a threat to their victims.
The peaceful unarmed folk 'in-between' have to call for Police help ( men with guns) and Emergency teams who, by the nature of things, - can only arrive at the scene after the crime or violent assault has happened.
- There is good reason why the Colt Single Action Army Revolver was named "The Peacemaker" and "The Equalizer" throughout the last quarter of the 19th Century.
Any strengthening of "Gun Laws" can only further entrench the disarming of Joe Citizen as a whole and further reduce the shrinking legal firearms ownership - while maintaining the concentration of weaponry into unlawful hands. - This is not opinion - this is fact. - In the year following the 1997 British "Gun Ban" UK violent crime rose by 69% and gun crime almost doubled.
Gun Controls and Gun Bans can only affect and limit the rights of the law-abiding - as criminals will continue to ignore the law.
Is this truly "New Zealand as we want it"?
Marty K.
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?
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