A GUN FACT Fest. (NZ version)

If any reader doesn't like these following FACTS ... please check for yourself eh:

There are calculated to currently be more than ONE BILLION FIREARMS on Earth.
(400 Million in US civilian hands)

The population of America (USA) is less than five percent (5 %) of the worlds population.
- as I write, - the US population is 326.9 Million and rising.

World Population = 7.638 BILLION .. and also rising.

“I have a very strict gun control policy:

 - if there’s a gun around I want to be in control of it.”

Clint Eastwood - who is now 88 years old is actually "middle-of-the-road" regarding firearms law - & supports reasonable regulation.

The Christchurch (South Island New Zealand) Firearms Office is the busiest in our country.
A Police Firearms Licence is REQUIRED here to own any firearm .. Licenses are issued to 'Fit & proper persons' to own & shoot handguns, rifles & shotguns for sporting purposes.

 There are said to be 230,000 Licensed Firearms users in NZ with an estimated 1.5 million guns.
 - But the number of people applying for gun licences has increased by more than 50 percent in the past year. Police figures show the number of applications has jumped from 21,000 in 2014 to 34,000 this year.

- New Zealand population is 4.7 Million (- 0.6 percent of the world's population.)

There is in New Zealand Law THE RIGHT to own firearms for Self Defense.
(Article 7 - Bill of Rights 1688 - February 13)
& (NZ Imperial Laws Application Act 1988.)
(This RIGHT is currently disputed by some Police Administrators)

- New Zealand's "Traditionally Unarmed Police" (claimed) was established in 1846 as THE ARMED POLICE FORCE (APF) ..becoming The Armed Constabulary in 1867 & they then became known as 'New Zealand Police' in 1958.

Our NZ Police are under multiple stresses with under-resourcing, recruitment issues, & are having difficulties releasing facts regarding firearms crime here. NZ gun crime is at a very low level.

One current issue within NZ Police is as below:

"Statement from Police Commissioner" Monday 23 July 2018

Attribute to Commissioner Mike Bush:

The Government has today announced details of the inquiry into the process that led to the appointment of Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha.

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New Zealand is the only country where the introduced TAHR may be legally hunted.

- There is plenty of opportunity & variety in shooting & hunting here in New Zealand. - Red Deer, Fallow & other species like 'Whitetail' - wild boar - Ducks & wild fowl in season - "rough shooting" - pest control for Rabbits, Pig, -  Ring Tail Possums - Wallaby, wild Turkey in areas.

(Good Trout, Salmon - sea & game fishing in season too)

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BILLIONAIRES: Jeff Bezos founder of Amazon - is now worth $151 Billion - what a synthetic way of life .. what's the point of more - when the world's poor are starving?

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Our NZ high bush-clad and steep back country is very beautiful - but can be dangerous to the unwary with rapid weather changes and harsh conditions. - New Zealand is well named both "the Shaky Isles" and "the Windy Isles". - River crossing can be hazardous and used to be called "The New Zealand Death".

There certainly is increasingly population pressure and other restrictions being applied to sport shooting here. But there are many active Full Bore & Small Bore Rifle shooting Clubs -Shotgun 'Trap shooting' and ranges - while Target Pistol shooting on approved club ranges is a growing activity under PISTOL NZ control.

UK Population Density   : per sq.kilometer = 255.  per.sq.mile= 660
NZ Population Density: per.sq.kilometer =  16.    per.sq.mile=  41
Australia    "          "        : per sq.kilometer =   3.4. per.sq.mile=    8.8 (Big Red Center Empty)
USA           "          "       : per.sq.kilometer =  33.   per.sq.mile=  85

- That's 16 times as many poms to the square inch as kiwis. - We "Kiwis" are very lucky to be living here and now.

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Military Budgets: The US military spend every year - $601 BILLION - is greater than the next nine largest nations COMBINED: Link:

https://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-worlds-20-strongest-militaries-ranked-2015-9/?r=AU&IR=T/#1-united-states-20

External DEBT (US$) per head:
Ireland= $458,278. 
UK= $151,067. 
Australia= $67,647. 
US= $49,961. 
NZ= $18,639.
(- this is some sort of 'indicator') (The Irish got well fecked by the BANKERS & Right-Wing politicians)

Marty K.

More from the bullshit detector ..

Britain's "Ancient seat of democracy" - The Palace of Westminster aka The Houses of Parliament is a replacement actually built between 1840-1876 and is owned by the (unelected) Queen.
- while we're thinking about these icons of tourism - that medieval Gothic stone Tower Bridge is actually a steel built suspension bridge opened in 1894.

Yeup - there are two-plus-two towers.