Thread: Police mail order forms

Mention has been made of "original" copy to be sent to the seller. There are a couple points here I would like to make. Original does not refer to a printed rather than a downloaded form. Original means specifically the piece of paper signed by the police representative and stamped. It is too easy to obtain an already fill out for, scan it, edit it and send it via email. They could change any detail and you would not know whether they had a license or not. The stamp the cops use can be seen to be different from a printed version hence the requirement of original. That way you can see as a seller that the details as they appear ARE the details that were signed off.

Second- sworn or non sworn- does not matter as long as they are police employees representing the police. 95% of the time at most stations it will be a sworn officer or an Arms officer. But bear in mind, it is my understanding the Arms officers are not always required to be sworn officers.

Scans of firearms license are also not acceptable. The only thing a scan of a license proves is that the computer that the email came from has a scan of someones license on it. How many of you have a scan of your (or someone elses from a sale) Firearms license stored on the hard drive? And how many computers are stolen? If the scumbag is happy to steal a computer, do you think he / she is honest enough to not use the image?

Finally: and this is probably the most important. As a seller YOU must be satisfied that you have sold and presented the firearm to a licensed person. If the person is not licensed and you gave them possession of a firearm then you face possible prosecution. You must take all reasonable steps to ensure the buyer has a valid license. If you accept a scan and you are happy with it then that is your call, but I know the police and the courts here in Christchurch do NOT consider a scan to be "reasonable steps" as the statement "that the original must be sent to the seller' is clearly written on the form. The Local AO assures me that in the instance of potential charges of supplying a firearm to a non licensed person, scans of the form or license are not going to stand up in court as "acceptable and reasonable steps".

Its your license at risk, your guns at risk so its your call. I will only accept a signed form for mail order sales, and the officers information and signature must be in pen and stamped in ink. If there is any doubt we are easily able to call the issuing officer and confirm these details are correct.