Current challenges faced by NZ Firearms owners, a personal viewpoint.
There is no end to the issues that we as law abiding, responsible owners and users of firearms face today,
and over the years I have seen many changes in the time I have held a firearms license. Operation foresight
introduced us to the red license booklet and licensed the owner not the firearm, it was also the beginning
of police vetting of licence applicants. I started with a lifetime license, this did not last long and the current
ten year licensing regime was introduced from 1992, in the aftermath of a random mass shooting, and a
new E category license came on the scene. This was going to save New Zealand from the scourge of the
Military Style Semi Automatic rifle! Two renewals later I am still proud to be a licensed firearm owner and
have had plenty of enjoyment through hunting, shooting and collecting. One highlight has been
introducing my own children to responsible firearms use and associating with fellow firearms enthusiasts,
many of whom mentored me in my formative years of collecting.
As I have progressed through my hobby I have become involved with the management of NZAHAA and
COLFO, and as a result I attend the police Firearms Community Advisory Forum (FACF), I am also a
volunteer Firearms Safety Instructor. I enjoy being able to give something back to the firearms community
through my involvement with these organisations and like to think we can contribute to preserve hunting,
shooting and collecting as we know it for future generations. That is something I am very passionate about.
I remember the formation of COLFO and had an awareness of its existence through my NZAHAA
membership. Fellow COLFO supporters could be identified by their “Kiwis hunt, shoot and vote bumper
stickers” and regular updates filtered through to us all by various means, life seemed so simple then. For
me at the time it was just something that went on in the background and I assumed would preserve
hunting and shooting forever. I was like most blissfully ignorant, and at the time it was not really an issue
to assume that we would be protected and our Utopian paradise would remain as such forevermore.
I eventually gained an interest and appreciation for the work done by COLFO and now I’m part of the
COLFO team. I have seen COLFO evolve over the years and there is currently a very passionate and wellinformed
group of people serving the COLFO executive. These people give up their personal time to review
and reply to countless emails, to attend board meetings and meetings with police, politicians and other
firearms user groups. They invest heavily in building positive relationships with the right people to get our
collective voices heard. Much of what is achieved is done with diplomacy and discretion, much of this
remains unreported. They put themselves out there on behalf of us all when they would all be quite
content to fly under the radar like so many firearms owners tend to prefer. I feel privileged to be
associated with such passionate and professional people and have the utmost respect for my peers.
The world has changed, the demographic of our New Zealand society has changed, and the definition of
what constitutes a family has changed. This all contributes to changes in public perception and attitudes.
We as firearms owners are a minority group in a world where majority rules. We face a multitude of issues
every day resulting from a number of contributing factors:
• Urbanization which has taken people away from rural upbringings where firearms and hunting were
an acceptable way of life. Most of the firearms enthusiasts I know were privileged to have had such an
upbringing.
• Single parent family’s have taken the opportunity for exposure to firearms and hunting away from
many children during their formative years. This is further exacerbated by family court, councillors and
physiologists that take a dim view on firearm ownership. This is a multi generational issue.
• Immigrants, some who come here from war ravaged countries where firearms are something to be
feared and others, from countries where firearms are strictly controlled, who struggle to grasp why
anyone would need a gun.
• Media sensationalize any shooting incident and firearms become a very emotive subject. Criminal
misuse and shooting incidents sell newspapers and to the average member of the public this just reinforces
anti firearm sentiment. There is also little definition between a lawful licensed firearm owner and a
criminal when media is concerned.
• Firearms are portrayed as bad and firearms user are worse, to the uninitiated and
ill informed public. So called experts like Alpers and Gillespie say it is so therefore it must be true. As do
animal activists such as SAFE when they call hunting murder and barbarism.
• Political crusaders that want to be seen as saviours of society at the expense of the firearms
community.
• Licensed firearm owners who act irresponsibly, such as selling guns to unlicensed individuals bring
us all into disrepute.
• Apathy among the firearm community, who make no effort to stand up for their sport or hobby
All of these things are made much worse by division and criticism from within the firearms community.
Strength and unity go hand in hand, but sadly this is a HUGE issue. Taking this into account may give a little
clarity as to why we are constantly validating what we at COLFO do.
I believe we can all play our part in uniting the firearms community and protecting our sport or hobby.
Everyone is entitled to their viewpoint and everyone will see things in a slightly different perspective but
we should all work together in challenging those that would deny us our sport. It can be hard to change
someone’s views and convictions but education helps and if we have the opportunity to discuss and
correct someone’s misconceptions we should put in the effort and if possible alleviate those concerns.
Education, promotion and positivity, it all adds up.
We must all know the law and comply with the law. We represent every licensed firearm owner in NZ and
if our negligence lands us in hot water we are potentially all tarred with the same brush. We must not
underestimate this responsibility.
We can no longer take what we have for granted, the good old Kiwi “she’ll be right, someone else will do
it” attitude won’t cut it. If we are called to make our voice heard and are confident and capable do it, we
must all make the effort, or regret not doing it once it is too late. COLFO will endeavour to counter any
new laws, regulations, or policies that restrict our lawful ownership and use of firearms, but needs the
solid backing of us all to achieve this.
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