THE
RIGHT TO ARM BEARS – in a New Zealand context.
(Or
rights as a law abiding 'fit & proper person')
Now that I've got your
attention and you're all tensed-up with an increased heart rate –
may I assure you that I genuinely am a pacifist with a record going
way back to the British CND (Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament) in the 1960s and the Nuclear Free New Zealand
movement led by the late Larry Ross in 1980s Christchurch. - Now that
you may be a little calmer, I'll carry-on, eh.
I've done a lot of
research about weaponry, warfare, and military force, - and I lived
for years in UK with the promise of a '4 Minute Warning' of
nuclear missile impact – very
comforting
as the nearby M***** Hill (where we went swimming in the Sports
Centre pool), covered the underground headquarters of Britains Strike
Command HQ. - Here's a short quiz question: Which country has the
highest density of military installations in the world? (Well it used
to be when I lived there.)
- Anyway in the early 1960s aged 15, I was taught to
shoot a rifle at my school range as part of the weekly
compulsory (full uniform cadet) military training.
Lee-Enfield No.8 Mk1 Cadet Training Rifle .22" caliber
Lee-Enfield No.8 Mk1 Cadet Training Rifle .22" caliber
Now here are some proposals that I'd like you to
consider:
A-
If it were possible to dis-invent
all nukes & all weapons above sticks & rocks, - I'd do it
now.
B
– If all legal
ownership of firearms was banned
by law -
it is a fact
that - only criminals would continue armed. (- Law-abiding citizens
all being disarmed).
C
– I strongly insist on my right as a pacifist(and yours) to defend
myself, my family, and any other people who may be suffering serious
physical assault.(This is the same right as police).
D
– The current NZ Firearms Acts and Regulations are very restrictive
and generally work well.. despite some silly bits regarding "free
standing pistol grips" on rifles, and the look
of
some features.
E
– Current NZ Police regulation (page 41 Arms
Code)
states "Self-defence is not a valid reason to possess firearms."
F-
Governments (including ours) - train, pay, and equip, young men to
kill their political enemies, - and reward selected lethal high
achievers with medals and promotion.
G-
Now here comes my big proposal.- People endorsed by the Police as "a
Fit &
Proper Person"
to possess and use 'restricted weapons' should be permitted to carry
and keep such arms in the same manner as armed police. - It might be considered neccessery to swear-in such endorsed firearms users as 'Auxiliary Police' . - If they are
not
safe to do this, in a responsible manner in support of maintaining
the law, why are they licensed to own & use such firearms in the
first place? - I maintain that our stretched police-force should be
granted all possible help and support in conducting their essential
duties.
Note: NZ Police employed at all
International Airports are always armed (as required by Aviation
Law). - So also are Diplomatic Protection, Witness Protection, Armed
Offenders Squads, Special Tactics Groups, - and most patrol cars have
guns available in an onboard safe.
Swiss Army Rifle Stgw90 (with 40mm grenade launcher)
Oops - has that got a pistol grip ?
Supporting facts:
All male citizens of military age in Switzerland (pop:8 Million) are
required to keep at home their military assault rifle or
pistol (Sig P220) -depending on rank. Keeping their weapons after the
end of their military service requires a license. The total number of
firearms in Swiss homes is estimated as between 1.2 million to 3
million – the third highest in the world. The Swiss violent crime
rate is among the lowest in Europe. - American States
having introduced concealed carry permits are found to have either
reduced violent crime rates or not inreased those numbers. - Kennesaw
Georgia is well known for its very low crime rates since it made gun
ownership mandatory
in 1982 for the head of each household. On the other hand, Washington
DC
and Chicago
have the toughest restrictions on gun ownership and also suffer the
highest crime rates in that nation.
- British gun crime almost doubled in the year
following the 1997 handgun ban - and violent crime has soared by 69%.
- In Australia following the "Port Arthur Gun Ban" –
violent crime rates rose 32% in the six years following, and armed
robbery rates rose 74%.
Marty.
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