Thread: Some useful statistics from Nicole McKee

One thing I don't hear many saying is we used to have a 'firearm registry' in NZ - I remember either picking up a 'permit to procure' or I was getting the gun I'd just bought inspected by the Firearms Officer at Lower Hutt when a report came over the radio of a gang stoush. The officer said words to the effect they should just leave the buggers to sort their own shit out.

To buy a gun you went to the cops and got a permit to procure - you told them what you were buying, and what for.
You then presented that 'permit' to whoever you were buying off - and they filled it in.
The next step was to take the gun and filled in Permit to the local Arms Officer and have it physically checked.
The Arms Officer then typed out a 'Certificate of Registration of Firearm' - and in 1980 you paid $6 for the privilege.
In 1967, Registration cost 10s ......... or $1.
The police didn't seem to care how many guns you had - just as long as you followed the rules.

With the bolt out I could carry my gun on the bus or train - or walk through a city with one.
My motorbike shit itself at the foot of the Rimutaka's and I had to walk home - to Taita. I carried my pack and rifle through Upper Hutt and got 'looked over' several times by a passing police cruiser. They watched me walk at least 20 miles and not once did they stop to check - I should have stuck my thumb out. That was a thirty mile walk, my legs 'twanged' like crazy when I got home.

In those days - the Police had a record of your guns and you had a record of your guns - typewritten on paper.

I don't know when they chucked 'Registration' - I did hear it had got expensive, or was time consuming - maybe both .............. they had no computers back then.
Nowdays they got computers and they think it will work betterer.

And of cause .............. we had the big Christchurch thing - and a Leader who just wanted guns gone - we were a dangerous pack of bastards.
Or ............. was it about making a statement to the world ?

And now I've written all that - am I just stating something so obvious no one bothers talking about it .......... I'm starting to feel a bit foolish .................