Christchurch Police are increasingly concerned that they will shoot someone brandishing an imitation firearm, says Inspector Gary Knowles. It is also a worry that if police do not realise there is a real firearm involved, an officer could be shot.
"I get reports from staff every week noting more and more incidents where they have had to respond to a call from a member of the public who has seen someone brandishing a gun," he says. "Sometimes it is kids shooting from cars at other vehicles or having a pot shot at a passing cyclist. We have to respond to these calls. If you are an armed police officer who sees someone pulling a firearm at night, you don't have much time to ask if it is an imitation or not. One day some one will get shot."
Inspector Knowles says the imitation firearms look so real that it takes a close inspection to distinguish them from a real firearm.
Imitation firearms are being sold for as little as $6 by retailers who purchase them in bulk. Gary Knowles says that many could be classified as air guns for which a firearms license is needed.
On 17 January police received a report that four males had a pistol. They were challenged and two 15 year olds were found to have bb guns. They had purchased them with no age or identification asked.
In another recent incident an AOS callout led back to a retailer who had sold 21 imitation firearms for $6 each. The retailer will be warned.
Fast food outlets and car parks are areas where police receive calls from concerned members of the public who have seen `kids' with firearms.
"Police have to respond," says Knowles. "If we don't and the firearm is real we are heavily criticised. An officer could be shot because they assume the firearm will be an imitation - and it's not. It's a huge risk."
Imitation firearms which do fire a pellet can also cause damage and injury especially if they hit an eye or soft tissue. In a worst case scenario, manslaughter charges could follow.
It's one thing to have a license and another to handle a weapon carefully and responsibly says Knowles.
"You have to ask, why do people, in particular young people, feel such a need to carry a firearm that looks like a Glock?" asks Inspector Knowles. If you do buy a real firearm, you must get a firearms license."
Firearms License requirements
It's timely to remind people who do have a firearms license that it is time to renew their license.
If you change address you must notify police in writing within 30 days of your new address.
To own or have possession of a firearm you need to hold a firearms’ licence.
The minimum age for obtaining a firearms’ licence is 16. You do not need a firearms’ licence for an air gun unless you are aged between 16 and 18. To apply for or renew a firearms’ licence, an application must be made in person to the Arms Officer at any Police station that has a public counter. Police no longer handle licensing fees. All payments are now made at New Zealand Post Shops where a receipt will be issued.
The Arms Officer will require the following from you:
The appropriate receipt from NZ Post.
One passport size, colour photograph on a plain background, the full name, address, telephone number and date of birth of two referees who can vouch for your suitability to be in possession of firearms. The first must be your spouse, partner, or next-of-kin, and the second must be an unrelated person of good repute, over 20 years of age, who knows you well.
The fee for a new firearms’ license is $123.75. The fee to renew your license is also $123.75 but it must be lodged before the expiry date. For all expired licenses the cost of renewal is $236.25.
Security measures for firearms are required and will be discussed with the Arms Officer at the time of application. If you require more information, please phone your local Police station during normal office hours or check our web site, www.police.govt.nz.