At least this one was stopped
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime...ings-sentenced
A central Southland man who thought about mass killings and made PVC pipe bombs could not get the mental health help he required, a court has been told.
Tony Leonard Gow, 51, was sentenced to two years' intensive supervision when he appeared in the High Court at Invercargill on Friday.
He had earlier served 13 months in prison while awaiting sentencing on charges of unlawfully possessing two homemade PVC pipe bombs, two sawn-off shotguns, a .308 rifle and ammunition.
In April last year it was reported to police that Gow disclosed fantasies of school massacres and had an interest in mass killings in New Zealand, the police summary of facts says.
When spoken to by police, he confirmed "daily thoughts about mass killings", which he said were a result of post-traumatic stress disorder he had suffered since the age of 14.
Gow admitted having discussed mass murder with an associate and having said to his associate "if he was going to kill one person, then he might as well kill as many as you can because the result is going to be the same".
Gow admitted to having been in the planning stages of obtaining a firearm for his associate and having obtained a .22 calibre rifle with 1000 rounds of ammunition, the summary says.
He also said he had thoughts of entering a shopping centre and shooting as many people as he could, the police summary says.
On June 13, police searched Gow's property and found a fuse wire and three small cannabis plants.
When questioned, he said he had a sawn-off shotgun and explosive device and told police where to find them.
A further search by police found a homemade PVC pipe bomb and fuse concealed under plywood in a paddock.
The New Zealand Defence Force bomb squad removed the device and confirmed it was a viable explosive capable of maiming and causing death if activated.
Also found was a loaded sawn-off shotgun, which had been reported to police as stolen in 2013.
Gow admitted to making the pipe bomb and cutting the shotgun to pistol length.
He told police the pipe bomb was "just for a bit of fun" at the start, but because he was having trouble with people he would save some for them.
A further search on June 20 found a second PVC pipe bomb, sawn off shotgun and ammunition hidden in a beehive in a paddock on Gow's property, while a .308 rifle was found in his garage.
Gow does not hold a firearms licence, the summary says.
His lawyer, Joseph Mooney, said they were in court because Gow's wife recognised there were issues with her husband.
"They had been trying to seek help from mental health services for years with limited success. She was of the view it wasn't adequate."
Police, who searched Gow's property after being contacted by his wife, had expressed "surprise" Gow had not received more support for his mental health issues, and said they would try to get him more assistance, Mooney said.
Gow, who suffered abuse as a child, had harboured harmful thoughts throughout his life.
The harmful thoughts were a "coping mechanism" for Gow.
"He wishes to stress the thoughts didn't equate to intent to act on those thoughts," Mooney said.
Crown lawyer Riki Donnelly said Gow had a "unique psychology", and his sentencing took on greater importance, given the shootings near Whangarei this week.
There was a huge public interest in containing firearms in the community, he said.
"You can see what can happen when firearms are able to be used by people who shouldn't have them."
With Gow having already served 13 months in prison, Donnelly asked the judge for a sentence of intensive supervision to protect the community and to help Gow.
Gow's wife was in the court supporting her husband during the sentencing, with Justice Nicholas Davidson saying his family was the best thing he had.
Justice Davidson discharged Gow without conviction on a charge of cultivating cannabis.
In handing down Gow's sentence of intensive supervision, with numerous conditions, including the need to complete treatment plans, Justice Nicholson said the protection of the community and the rehabilitation of Gow were paramount.
Among the special conditions imposed was judicial monitoring, meaning the court will be provided information on Gow's progress on a three-monthly basis until the court advises otherwise.
Gow must also allow authorities to inspect his property, if requested by the probation officer, to reduce the likelihood of further offending.
