Thread: Initial info on pistol grip law change.

Safety Catch issue The Mountain Safety Council, has just under 500 volunteer members that provide firearms training. Its stance is "don't ever rely on the safety catch", and it encourages bolt action firearms, and for owners to go to clubs if they want to learn better or more advanced skills. Its members mostly come to get licences for work vets, etc.

Apparently safety catches are not important anymore and optional, at least thats the way this comment reads to me. The rest of the statement is bollocks too apparently there are a lot of "Vets"

Originally Posted by Maca49

Sounds like it needs to be out! I fail to see how being a member of a club organisation has anything to do with ownership of a firearm.

That would be the NZPA influence Everyone knows clubs make people safer. As far as I am aware NZPA are pushing for "Range Use only" endorsement for MSSA's

Yep I think the police advisors should all be members of appropriate clubs before they have their say on any proposal, in fact I would take it they have an understanding of and an interest in firearms and hunting.i don't mean armed offenders or a passing acquaintance with a firearm in the work environment, or a law degree. Can't discuss this with just emotion or what criminals do.

Originally Posted by mikee

That would be the NZPA influence Everyone knows clubs make people safer. As far as I am aware NZPA are pushing for "Range Use only" endorsement for MSSA's

As in something totally different to an e endorsement?

Da lets all wear short hair and dress the same

The magazine capacity is the entire reason for (me) owning a MSSA, I need 20/30 shot clips to get the job done. I hope the 10 rounds is a rimfire issue and not centrefire?

kj

Like I said before, another whole law change is necessary to change mag limits

Originally Posted by Beavis

Like I said before, another whole law change is necessary to change mag limits

Why? Please explain?

In a nutshell, police only have the power to define semi auto firearms and firearm parts as a E category (MSSA). It's specificly states in the arms amendment law what mag sizes are and only the politicians can change that not the police.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

Thanks, so the reference to 10 round mags is where they've changed the "appearance" from 7 to 10 for centrefire

I think so, its the only logical thing it could be as its the only change to do with mags.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

FWIW - it looks like this may, in the first instance, just be a tweak of the definition of "sporting configuration" under the current Arms Act 1983 - Rather than action under the newly introduced legislation.

Regulations can be issued under the 1983 act by order in council - they're generally used to tidy up loose ends, or deal with details that have been left out of the main act. It looks like the definition of sporting configuration will be tidied up with the introduction of a regulation (specifically a new definition of "pistol grip"). The benefit of a regulation is it can be pushed through by order in council - which is often either cabinet or the minister in charge approving the regulation, which then gets signed into law by the governor general. It can be a very quick process.

By contrast, from memory (long time since I read it) any action under the new legislation (e.g. the "classify all AR15's as E Cat" power) needs to go to parliament for debate and a vote before it comes into law - which would probably take a lot longer than simply introducing a regulation under the existing law.

I have it from a reliable source that they're hoping to tidy up the pistol grip issue by christmas. I also believe it's possible there may be an amnesty of sorts (similar to the check your buts campaign) where owners are given an opportunity to apply for their E cat.

Best solution seems to be go get your E Cat now.....it'll probably save you a lot of hassle later on, and you may even get an early christmas present in the form of a free E-cat upgrade to your baby......

"Sporting configuration" no longer exists

Originally Posted by Beavis

"Sporting configuration" no longer exists

yep, gone burger

Originally Posted by mikee

yep, gone burger

Yeah, actually, my bad - that's what you get when you don't read $hit properly.

Looking at it again, they can push though a description of pistol grip under the new legislation without reverting to general debate/vote in parliament.

Declaring firearms of particular makes, models, descriptions, or features as MSSA's has to be ratified by additional legislation (s74B).

Guess that was my point - they seem to be focussing on the pistol grip issue first.

Interestingly enough, does anyone know whether the new act has actually come into force yet? It received royal ascent on 11/12/12 - which gives a default commencement date of 11/12/13 (s2(2)), unless it's bought into force earlier by order in council - I haven't seen anything saying that this has occurred (but again, could well be wrong)?