NZ Police Association President Greg O'Connor is again calling for all police to be armed stating that only a pistol on an officers hip allowed police to take immediate action.
He was commenting on a recent incident when two unarmed police officers grappled with and disarmed a man who fired a shotgun at their vehicle.
He said that the Police Association was calling on all political parties to realise the time has come to fully arm the New Zealand Police.
The Glock 17 9mm is the NZ Police Issue Handgun.
- If the time has come here in New Zealand to recognise that the level of violent crime is now so serious as to justify all Police being armed all the time (I believe this is so) - then they will need to seriously upgrade their training regime and qualification standards.
Further more - there is a strengthening argument that if our kiwi police need to be armed for defensive purposes - Firearms licences endorsed for 'Restricted Weapons' need to be amended to permit gun owners to use their arms for self-defence and arms retention purposes - outside of their homes - police approved certified ranges, and firearms related businesses.. 'Self-defence' needs to be recognised here as a valid reason for possession of an appropriate licence and firearm.
The NZ Police Arms Code currently states (page 41) "Self Defence is not a valid reason to possess firearms." - this conflicts with the Crimes Act - and indeed, were it true, then the police themselves would have no justification to bear arms.
Marty K.
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