Review of Firearms Control in New Zealand - Extracts from the Thorp report
1. Self defence is not a legitimate reason for possession of a firearm, to be written into the Act.
2. One of the principals of report is "list of lethality". Highest being for machineguns and rocket launchers, down to muzzle loaders and airguns.
Note, however, the Raurimu massacre was done by a lone paranoid schizophrenic with a single shot, break open shotgun that he was in illegal possession of.
3. Restricting high risk weapons means to permanently deactivate all restricted weapons, (all those collectors firearms held on a "C" cat endorsement), by welding, drilling, etc. No compensation to be paid.
4. Pistol shooters restricted to 2 handguns for first 12 months of licence. Then restricted to 6 handguns unless a top competitive shooter can prove extraordinary need.
5. Handgun security to be beefed up. As well as safe, burglar alarm, ammo must be stored separately in locked cupboard.
6. When in vehicle, handguns must be stored in secure locked case attached to vehicle with burglar alarm sound if anyone tries to open case or vehicle.
7. All MSSA's and sporterised MSSA's to be banned except for DOC staff or other specialists. Compensation, (including parts), to be paid at "market value".
Note that in 1992 all owners of MSSA's, (Military Styled Semi-Automatic firearms), had to get a special licence endorsement, (coat $200), had to register each of these "E" cat guns, place them in a 6mm steel safe, or convert them to "sporter" configuration, (including buying new stocks at $150 each, getting a gunsmith to alter the magazine, barrel, etc), to keep them. Now they'll lose them. Now Thorp wants to register "A" cat firearms, which is to say, 97% of all the other guns in NZ. Do we trust them, based on "E" cat experience and that of shooters in the UK and Australia?
8. List of banned guns to be drawn up by technical committee. Buyback to run for 6 months. Estimated to cost $21 million.
9. All semi-auto and pump action shotguns to be permanently restricted to 2 shots. All semiautomatic rifles to be restricted to 7 shots. The precise means of accomplishing this to be referred to the new technical committee.
10. Audible burglar alarms for all B and D endorsement holders, (does not include C or E cat because all restricted "C" cat firearms will be deactivated and Es will be banned).
11. A serious violent offence would mean firearms licence ban for 5 years. Domestic violence ban for 2 years.
12. To get new licence, must consult with Women's Refuge.
Women's Refuge recently had a burglary in one of their homes. A police constable came to investigate but wasn't allowed in because he was male. Is Women's Refuge an impartial body?
13. Steering committee of Police, Mountain Safety Council and local Polytechnics to train potential licensees. Can't get licence without attending course.
14. Allow doctors to report mentally ill. Police to liaise with health authorities.
15. Universal registration of all firearms.
Police have estimated this to cost $20 million or "five times that amount". At the rate of $20 million, divided by 150,000 licence holders, would cost $133 each, on top of the $135 police have asked the licence to be increased to. Total, $268. However, Thorp admits that high costs will affect compliance. So it is not clear how much of this cost, if any, will be borne by the taxpayer. Police, however, argue they have no budget for it.
16. 3 year licence period.
In 1983, shooters were given a "lifetime licence" for a one off fee. This was taken off them in 1992, when they were given a 10 year licence for another fee. Now, 5 years later, the proposal is for a 3 year licence. Note that many shooters who got endorsements 6 months after the 1992 legislation, had to get each one, (A, B, C and E), separately. The costs respectively were $65, $200, $200, $200. These licences will now be made defunct and new costs will be levied on them. Even if they paid the $200 for the "E" endorsement just a few months ago, the gun will now be confiscated, and no part of the fee returned.
17. Make it an offence to breech regulations.
We assume this means that for even minor technical offences, (for instance, over ambiguous clauses), police will now be in a stronger position to revoke licences.
18. High powered airguns to be treated as real guns. Thorp includes ratings.
19. Ammunition only to be purchased if you are registered to have a gun of that calibre - barcodes on licences for checking.
This would seem potentially to either restrict or end the practice of reforming ammunition for hard to get or obsolete calibres and also restrict or end cartridge collecting.
20. Commissioner can stop any firearm from being imported if he feels it is "dangerous".
21. Allow police to search for and seize firearms licences and ammunition.
22. Firearms authority to be set up for this revamping - with either a wind down time of 5 years, or if felt desirable, perpetual.
23. Central armouries to be tried in 2 main centres.
When SSANZ met with Thorp, the first thing we gave him was press clippings showing how central armouries in Europe, with complex security, guards, steel and concrete, were overcome and cleaned out by "professional thieves".
24. All ordinary "A" cat shooters must now put, either their "A" cat guns, or some vital part of those guns, (i.e. bolts), in a 6mm steel safe.
Cost: between $300 (bolts only), and $800 plus (whole firearms). Those that brought 3mm steel safes to comply with the 1992 legislation may as well now throw them away. No compensation offered for any security made obsolete.
This is not law, just recommendations, like the Mason Report into psychiatric health was.
Final comment: The new security and new licence costs alone will cripple the sport.
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