The only time I was invited into a NZ Police Armoury - I questioned why the racked rifles were stored in breach of regulations with FULLY LOADED magazines inserted. - The officer showing me their set-up explained that the guns had to be ready for use.
This was some years ago ..
Minister Of Police Poto Williams.
Currently I understand that recruits receive a one week "Introduction" to firearms regulation, technology and their use in self defence armed conflict.
- Just over a year ago Superintendent Andrew Sissons of the NZ POLICE stated that they have :
3,021 x GLOCK PISTOLS.
2,913 x AR15 (type) MSSA RIFLES.
53 x Semi-Automatic MARKSMAN RIFLES.
10 x Bolt Action MARKSMAN RIFLES.
74 x SUB-MACHINE GUNS.
40 x 40mm GRENADE LAUNCHERS - for use with GAS GRENADES & SPONGE ROUNDS
I am unable to say if they have since lost any of these .. or if they may have made further procurement in this period - but do you - as a responsible licensed gun owner - feel that front line officers are properly equipped to use PROHIBITED MSSA WEAPONS and high capacity semi-automatic pistols in public confrontations with dangerous persons after a one week introduction?
Surely police must at the very least first be required to complete and qualify as 'fit & proper persons' using the same 35 Page application form and training-vetting that sporting shooters have to submit every five years?
New Zealand sporting shooters are specifically forbidden by police regulation from consideration of defensive use of their legally held firearms - whereas police are expected to use their weapons for exactly that purpose.
Note: NZ endorsed target pistol shooters are required by police to attend a pistol range 12 times a year.
The prospect that Firearms Licensing may soon become managed by an independent non-police Authority must be of serious concern to the POLICE MINISTER Poto Williams who will no doubt be keen to undertake her new responsibilities in an exemplary manner.
Marty K.
Talking with a police firearms instructor just last week and he agrees that Police are not well trained and that they range timeis woefully inadequate. At my peak I used to shoot 200 rounds a week of pistol ammunition to stay sharp against target that did not shoot back, It is my opinion, and this officer agreed, that 100 rounds a month is the minimum that is really needed, but they get about 75 rounds a YEAR! That is unfair on both the officers on the street, as mistakes are things that they have to live with, and also to innocents who may be hit by stray shots. The only cops that shoot well are those that do it as a hobby as well, and the gun handling I have observed from police would get them tossed out of any pistol club in the country.
ReplyDeleteIt's penny pinching that can cost lives..... just like the penny pinching that resulted in the police arming Brenton Tarrant, and we saw where that led.....
Thank you for your comment Kathryn - you have valuable experience & knowledge and I value your interest.
Delete- I think that if NZ police had to comply with the rules now imposed .. we would soon see them amended to be more rational.
Cheers martyk.