Australian Criminal (53 Convictions) was granted NZ Firearms Licence:

Radio New Zealand today Monday 18 Aug. reported that "P.E." - recently sentenced to five years and ten months prison for buying NZ$50,000 worth of rifles & shotguns to cut-down and sell to gang members - had been banned from firearms ownership in Australia, however - our New Zealand Police failed to check before issuing him a Firearms Licence.

Photo of Sawn-Off Shotgun from the web.

This is despite a pilot program started in 2012 between these two Police Forces to share information.

A police spokes person is reported to have said that they were aware of the applicant having "one conviction" and "that was not serious enough to stop him getting a gun licence".

Radio New Zealand  state that New Zealand police confirmed that they don't carry out mandatory criminal record checks with their Australian counterparts before issuing gun licences.

Why not?

I am also disgusted to observe that the Radio New Zealand website has chosen to place a photograph of a S&W Revolver to illustrate their story - when the case involves a gang associate buying and sawing-off rifles and shotguns.

Marty K
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