07-27-2010, 05:04 PM
Herbert Spencer Wrote:True, certainly relatively better than those of many other countries, but still replete with restrictive registration and permit schemes that effectively limit self-defense rights.
Interesting to note the history of NZ gun control laws. "Early laws were mainly targeted at Māori during the land wars in the Waikato and Taranaki..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politic...ew_Zealand
You are certainly correct in regard to the severe limitations in NZ on the right of self-defence, but this is a totally politically contrived policy, as the NZ Crimes Act clearly shows that individuals do have the right to protect themselves, their family and their property. Sadly our policy is part of the “British Disease” that we still have to live with.
Your Wiki link provides a good overview of the situation, although the number of firearms licence holders is now considerable more than 230,000 – more like 260,000 and growing at a rate of 8,000-10,000 per year.
A recent study of homicides in NZ shows that in spite of our high number of firearms per head of population homicides with firearms is far lower than in the UK and Australia - where there have been massive firearm control policies implemented over the past decade.
This is one quote from the study:
A former director of the United Nations Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, Tsutomu Ishiguri, has voiced similar sentiments, describing New Zealand gun control as "world class".
Suicides with firearms have also plummeted since the introduction of the very successful 1983 Arms Act, which states that “All persons wishing to have a firearms licence must take a course of study in firearms safety, pass a test, be considered by the police as ‘a fit & proper person’ to have a firearm and have security for the firearm/s.”
There are only two means of complying with the “Study & Test” requirements: one is to attend a NZ Mountain Safety Council lecture and answer a test paper containing 30 questions, and the other is to successfully complete the OPEN POLYTECHNICS four module FIREARMS SAFETY distance learning course, part of which involves completing a verification process which shows that the student has visited - a Gun Club or an Arms Dealer, or a Firearm Collector and can show clear evidence that a sound knowledge of firearms and firearms safety has been acquired.
Two referees are needed when an application for a firearms licence is made – one of whom must be a close relative. This system helps eliminate at least 99% of the undesirables.