New Zealand public meeting on firearm issues
by David Mack
13 October 1999
Last night in Wellington ACT leader, Richard Prebble, addressed a public meeting attended by over 250 people. The subject of Mr. Prebble's address was the Firearms Amendment bill #2 currently before a select committee and the right of law abiding gun owners in New Zealand to their sport and interests free from unnecessary bureaucratic interference.
In the most unambiguous language heard from a politician on firearms matters for a long time Mr. Prebble described the governments proposed bill as shameless "feel good" legislation which will do nothing whatsoever to reduce or prevent the misuse of firearms by criminals.
Sharing the platform with Richard Prebble was Mr. Vernon Tile, Alliance candidate for Rongatai. Mr. Tile read a speech prepared by or culled from the anti gun writings of Mr. Philip Alpers which reiterated the Alliance Party's support for the discredited Thorp Report. The Alliance, he said, is in favour of firearms registration as a crime fighting measure though he was unable to say how registering guns would help or to name a single country or jurisdiction where registration has worked to reduce crime.
Mr. Tile is a mathematician by profession and is not immune to logical argument. In discussion after the meeting he admitted that he knows very little about firearms but could see the logic of arguments against further restrictions on the law-abiding. However, the Alliance Party's support for the Thorp Report is cast in concrete and will not be changed.
Mr. Prebble was loudly applauded when he said that although he himself does not presently own a gun he will defend the rights of the law-abiding in this country to own and use firearms. The loss, he said, of this right would represent the loss of a much wider freedom of choice which would affect all the citizens of this country not just the gun owners.
In response to a question from the floor regarding the cost of implementing firearms registration Mr. Prebble said that the figure of 100 to 148 million dollars was what it will cost the government to implement the legislation. But, he said, when the time, effort and money costs to legitimate sporting shooters are added in the true costs will greatly exceed this figure. He asked the audience to consider the likely benefits if the same sum were to be spent on improved mental health care or road safety projects.
It is clear that many National Party politicians are deeply unhappy with the position the government has been forced into regarding our firearm laws. The existing gun laws are very sound, work well and are supported by the police and vast majority of licenced gun owners. The Thorp Report was a costly and futile exercise, which generated recommendations for political reasons not out of necessity. The government realised instinctively that the report was a waste of time and previous Police Minister, Jack Elder, would have sat on it until the cows came home. Clem Simich would have done the same had the government's hand not been forced by Alliance MP Matt Robson's private members bill.
It is abundantly clear that at the coming election only one party, ACT, represents the views and aspirations of law-abiding gun owners and sporting shooters. We have, under MMP, an unprecedented opportunity to let all political parties know that although we are a minority group we are proud of who we are, proud of our interests, hobbies and sport and we demand to be treated with the same respect due to any other group of law-abiding citizens.
There is one sure way we can demonstrate this with crystal clarity and that is for every gun owner to give his or her party vote to the ACT Party on November 27th.
Regards,
David Mack.
Standard disclaimer, opinions mine alone.
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