Thread: How do crims get their firearms, Mr Cahill?

Originally Posted by Mintie

Response from the Herald.

Hi Evan,
The NZ Herald strongly rejects this complaint.
This news story was based on a New Zealand Customs intelligence report and involved input from two of the most experienced law enforcement officials in New Zealand. Both Bruce Berry and Superintendent Greg Williams have each worked in their respective roles for more than 40 years.
Here is our response to the individual points you have raised.
With regards to the report’s focus on the o ring sealing kit:
The o rings came together with a metal cleaning rod as mentioned in the story. The New Zealand Customs Service now has a police armorer working at the New Zealand border to assist staff in flagging suspect gun parts. The police armorer assisted in these items being flagged and seized. We reported on this fact. The o rings were merely one part of the kit seized by the police/customs experts who are working at the border.
With regards to your complaint about the ability to convert air soft / pellet guns:
There is ample evidence from all over the world of air soft/pellet guns and blank firing guns being converted into functioning firearms that shoot bullets. In any case, we are again reporting on the actions of our experts at the border.
With regards to your complaint about the report’s coverage of blank firing guns:
Police in the UK now report more people are killed by converted blank firing guns than actual firearms.
Converted handguns fired more than 'real' weapons in UK crimes (bbc.com)
With regards to the complaint about the report’s coverage of gel blasters:
Gel blasters have been banned in most of Australia as police are concerned about how similar they are to real firearms and say replicas “can be converted.” It would be remiss of the Herald not to report the view of law enforcement officers, who are increasingly finding converted firearms.
In summary, the Herald rejects this complaint. The report was not inflammatory or scaremongering but based on the expert opinions of New Zealand law enforcement officials. The story was about the action being taken at our border and about the customs intelligence report and was not a story about whether that intelligence was right or wrong.

On behalf of,

Murray Kirkness

Some mighty fine buck-passing there!