Kiwi Cop—are you a member of the Police Association in NZ? I read in my local paper this morning that the police union is one of the biggest proponents of this measure: "Chris Cahill, president of the Police Association, the union representing New Zealand's police officers, praised Ardern's plan, saying his group had been calling for such measures for years.
"This addresses the key concerns we have," he said. "It's hitting those military-style semi-automatics. It's exactly what we wanted.""
Before I answer this once again I need to point out that unlike the US, in Kiwiland there is no
right to firearms ownership.Like a drivers license it is considered a privilege. And legally there is no right to carry
any weapon for self defense.
Yes, I am a member of the police association, it is required for every sworn cop below the rank of inspector (captain equivalent). Chris Cahill has been president of the association for only two years. He is predecessor was in the position for more than 20 and is now a government member of parliament. The two styles are very different.
I do not agree personally with every position Cahill takes. I do not believe that semi-automatics are the problem. The problem is those who used the loopholes to own them.
I have held an MSSA (semi-automatic) endorsement to my firearms licence since they were created in 1994. The guns of concern, which the Christchurch shooter used, have been modified with stock additions and reduced magazine capacity to be held on a standard license.
I have seen too many cases of licensed gun owners breaking the rules. Be it owning fully automatic guns on a collectors license, held on conditions they never be loaded with live ammo let alone fired, and then taking them to the back of a mates farm to fire full auto, to pistol shooters setting up a non approved range on their rural property for "practice" or taking their pistols hunting (pistols can only be held by club members and fired on approved ranges under the disciplines rules). The problem is everyone, including some rural cops, say 'he's okay, he's not the type of person we need to worry about". Actaully that is what was said about the club the shooter belonged to before he attacked the mosques.
Even pistol club members, who have the right to own
and shoot pistols are not beyond bending the rules. We're supposed to participate in "club activities" no less than 12 times a year. In recent years that has been relaxed to "club avtivities" including turning up for a coffee and to chin wag on a weekend morning. It is all such a mish mash of things right now.
The modified semi-autos appeal to those who have a predilection to ignore the rules. I have long felt that the loophole should have been better closed way back in '94 and all owners required to comply with the same rules. Pity that an attempt to do so in 2010 was overruled by the court. Reduced security requirements have made them more susceptible to theft and it is these stolen guns in gang circulation that are a problem for all cops. Too many are being found. And too many used against cops. That is really what Cahill is concerned with, not the small game or target shooters.
Now those who do have a legitimate reason for using a semi auto and have complied with the rules will be punished for the actions of a deranged sociopath.
The really concerningbthing is that only a few weeks before the incident in Christchurch commentators were praising NZ's gun laws as some of the best in the world. Now those same commentators are saying they are lax and need to be tightened.
Currently I am waiting for the final legislation to be drafted. There will be some legal challenges but some will be made by those on the fringes, one in particularly threatening to invite the American NRA to take a challenge. Other challenges will be made on the grounds of devaluing some rather expensive collections. And club shooter like me
may get a reprieve for competition shooting, although I can see some additional conditions to semi auto ownership being put in place to accomodate this.
Again, it is best if The NZ situation is
not compared but to the US. The legal basis and rules are so different and really cannot be compared. And our societies are also different.
As many know I spent over a month in the US last year anD found a very polite society. The average person is very pleasant to speak to, uses the words "sir" and "ma'am" a lot and always wished us to "have a good day". We saw plenty of street people who were far from pushy. The average Kiwi and Aussie is more likely to tell you rudely to get lost instead of inviting you to have a good day. And refuse a street persons request for change or cigarettes and you are likely to end up on the end of a string of abuse.
Of course we stayed away from the New York's, Los Angeles's and cities like them so possibly met more constrained Americans in our holiday.
Apples and oranges.
