Thread: Our gun laws

Originally Posted by Dannz

I find myself getting frustrated whenever I think about the provisions of the Arms Act and its various amendments. I firmly believe that laws should make sense, but in the case of the Arms Act I can't help but feel we're being forced to comply with illogical restrictions that have been engineered to simply to frustrate and confuse the law abiding gun owner.

Very interested to hear people's perspective on the points below:

1. E-cat magazine capacity restriction. If someone steals my A-cat AR-15 from my a-cat safe, they can simply walk into a gun shop and purchase a 30-round magazine no questions asked, and no licence required. Yet, if I want to own the same AR-15 with a 30-round magazine I need an endorsement + upgraded security. Somehow I need to convince the police that I'm fit and proper to own the same rifle in this context, but a criminal will simply buy whatever they need and do whatever they want.

2. Collapsible stock. Same as above.

3. Pistol grip. Same as above.

4. Pistol grip. My A-Cat Ar-15 has a thumb-hole stock that is functionally identical to a standard pistol grip. Yet, if I want to own the same AR-15 with a free-standing pistol grip I need an endorsement + upgraded security.

5. We're sometimes led to believe that the defining features of a MSSA (pistol grip, etc) are less about functionality and safety and more about how the public will perceive a firearm with MSSA features. Yet, I can own an A-cat bolt action rifle with a pistol grip, 10 round magazine and collapsible stock that a member of the public would not likely be able to distinguish from a MSSA.

Thoughts?

I get where your coming from of course, but even with all the nonsense rules surrounding firearms ownership, NZ has far fewer hoops to jump through than other countries. Gun ownership is very rare in the UK and extremely expensive, making shooting a rich mans sport.
It may not feel like it but here in NZ we are very very lucky to have access to firearms at an affordable rate.
The Gun laws here was one reason I moved to NZ and not elsewhere (sorry about that).
I for one wouldn't want to rock the boat too much, any further legislation would probably make things worse not better (in my opinion).