Thread: Call to Arms

The NZ Police Association, under the control of ardent anti gunner and bender of the truth, Chris Cahill, has launched their counter attack to the Governments response to the Select Committee. In their recently published Police Association Election Policy Document, he makes it very clear that he still wants registration and a crack down on firearm owners. You will note that almost all of his policy targets licenced owners, and not the actual criminals.

1.2 Firearms
The Police Association believes the government policy on firearms should:

» Move quickly to introduce the required law changes in order to implement the recommendations of the Law and Order Select Committee Inquiry into issues relating to the illegal possession of firearms.

» Introduce a firearms sale registration programme that requires the seller to notify Police of the certifiable details of the purchaser of all firearms.

» Introduce a firearms register which requires all firearms licence holders to list all firearms in their possession and advise Police of any purchases of new firearms.

» Stop any form of online sales of firearms and ammunition.

» Ensure legislation requires public safety to be the chief consideration of courts when adjudicating on firearm licensing issues.


1.2 Firearms
Possibly the most concerning issue facing policing in New Zealand in 2017 is the increasing availability of firearms to criminals, especially gang members. The Association receives almost daily reports from its members of officers being confronted
by offenders with firearms. There are also regular reports of gang affiliates located in possession of firearms, ranging from handguns to military style semi-automatic (MSSA) rifles. It is now commonplace to locate firearms when executing search warrants for methamphetamine.

This increasing availability of firearms to gang members, combined with the rising threat of inter-gang violence in an ongoing turf war for drug markets, poses a grave risk to public safety. Inter-gang conflict can result in innocent members of the public being caught in the crossfire. The tragic death of Jhia Te Tua in Whanganui in 2007 should not be forgotten. Stricter controls on the sale, supply and registration of firearms are required if New Zealand is to halt the flow of illegal firearms into the hands of criminals.

Customs figures show 40,000 firearms were imported into New Zealand in 2016 alone. While this includes soft airguns, it demonstrates that the legitimate supply of firearms is increasing at an alarming rate. Given there are only 242,000 licensed firearms holders in the country, and the vast majority of them will not have bought new firearms during this period, the Association is concerned about where many of these firearms end up.

In the reference for his statement of 40,000 firearms, he lists this:
NZ Herald OIA request NZ Customs (13/02/17) revealed 31 muzzle-loading firearms, 5461 shotguns, 15,836 rifles and 18,480 air-guns imported in 2016, and 94 firearms seized by Customs during that year.

So only 21,328 actual firearms were imported. Are dealers not allowed to import stock for sale?

Of 178 countries surveyed in the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, New Zealand is 22nd in the world in gun ownership. We have an average of 22.6 firearms per 100 people, and close to one million civilian-owned firearms. However, the reality is that there is no accurate record of the stockpile of firearms in New Zealand at any given time. Nor is there an accurate record of the number of gun thefts and burglaries which are the easiest ways for criminals to access firearms.

That sounds like an NZ Police issue, not a legislative issue.

[I]While the licensing procedures for owning pistols and MSSAs in New Zealand is more rigorous than that for other categories of firearms, the variety of firearms New Zealanders can access is out of touch with similar jurisdictions such as Australia and the United Kingdom. The British public lost the right to own pistols following the 1996 Dunblane School massacre, and Australians forfeited their right to MSSAs after the Port Arthur massacre in the same year.

The Association wants New Zealanders to be cognisant of the risks associated with the existence of weapons such as non-sports use handguns and MSSAs in our communities. We have not been immune to lone wolf shootings, and we have watched in horror as terrorist threats are realised in many parts of the world. We believe the trade-off for New Zealanders having access to these powerful weapons should be better registration, and tracking of ownership and sales of firearms.

The Association believes the Law and Order Select Committee Inquiry into issues relating to the illegal possession of firearms has missed a serious opportunity to tighten up on the tens of thousands of firearms pouring into the country every year. We would have liked the committee to ask why New Zealanders need MSSAs and non-sports use handguns, and recommend much tighter controls over these weapons.

There are, however, a number of positives from the Inquiry which may mean at least the whereabouts of many firearms will soon be tracked. Amongst these is a recommended extension of the permit to procure a firearm to, in future, cover the sale or transfer of all firearms.
Maybe he can't read very well...


Over time this will allow Police to build a database of firearms possessed by individuals.

Is this supported by law Chris Cahill?

The Association also applauds the tough stance recommended with respect to gangs, and the call for the Government to categorise gang members and prospects as not “fit and proper persons” to possess firearms.



Make no mistake, this fight is not over. Particularly while Chris Cahill remains at the helm of the NZ Police Association, and continues to spread his campaign of misinformation and fear mongering.