Thread: Act submission points

[QUOTE=whanahuia;1661337]I completed a personal submission earlier.

But also with incoming information, The farm has just done one representing our interests as well. Will post it below for interest sake and because it's still not too late to submit and is easy.

Firearms act submission.
On behalf of farm partnership

The family farm is a dairy and beef unit consisting of 400 hectares on the west coast of the south island. It employs 4 family members full time and two additional staff full time.
Firearms are both important work and recreational tool’s.

Currently two members of the family hold firearms licences, but we encourage staff to do so too, as it shares workload and allows more flexibility.
Farm firearm uses consist’s of humane dispatch of injured animals. Home slaughter of animals for food. Control of wild animals that damage tree plantations and crops. Control of pests that threaten native plant and animal species.
As such sections of the current law are too restrictive and don’t fit the requirements on the ground in day to day farm use.
The main principles
The main principle of the firearms act should be firstly to ensure the persons using firearms are fit and proper. Secondly to promote safe use and compliance through clear education and easy and clear application processes.
Firearm regulation process

It is fair to require more vetting and regulation based on risk profile. However its not adequate to restrict certain categories solely too current employment uses.
people change jobs too frequently. And not all pest control is viable on a commercial scale. We rely on recreational hunters that we trust through our own vetting to help control pest species. They and we, would benefit from a return to an E category of firearms open to non commercial licence holders. However the current level of vetting and safety compliance is acceptable.
The E category was proven to work and we believe had a high level of compliance with no history of misuse.
Firearm definitions

It needs to be simple and clear.
A category -for all sporting firearms Hunting and target that hold 10 shots or less.
E category - For all firearms with either fixed or removable magazines that can hold more than 10 shots. This includes possession of a magazine capable of such.
B category - Pistols. No change needed.

Collector category- No change needed

Options to surrender
There should be an open door policy re communication and ability to surrender firearms at any stage without fear of legal repercussion with time given once notified for sale or surrender of any such firearm. Presuming the firearm has not been used in a crime.

Fit and proper person test
The current test and vetting is appropriate. The age is appropriate. Firearms use is something that is best learnt under supervision of others under a range of conditions. It greatly helps to have young people out and participating and being able to handle and use firearms under supervision.

Ammunition and parts manufacture
There is no evidence that there is any problem in this regard. Reloading is a valuable tool for economically ensuring a reasonable supply of ammunition as well as smoothing out supply issues due to worldwide supply issues that crop up. Also many small town gunshop’s can not afford to stock the volumes of ammunition often needed for 12 months on farm use.
There is no issue existing with the manufacture or supply of gun parts. What needs to be ensured is that compliance costs don’t make it unduly restrictive for small businesses to compete with imported products.
A dealers licence should not be required to manufacture parts. Just whole firearms.
Ammunition purchases

Currently members on farm who hold licences, own differing types and calibres of firearms utilising differing cartridges for a range of purposes.
Any restriction on what ammunition any individual can purchase would mean an added difficulty in combining farm use purchases where multiply types of ammunition is ordered or bought at once by an individual member of the farm.
There is no need to restrict ability to purchase, too firearm calibers owned, as the fit and proper testing of all individuals is suitable for any ammunition available in New Zealand. At times on farm we also buy ammunition for recreational hunters who are doing pest control on our behalf.

Other issues

Currently our local gunships servicing the west coast struggle to be able to comply with onsite storage rules due too their size and floorspace options.
this has seen my closest store stop supplying ammunition and others severely reduce stocks. A workable solution that allows small stores to be able to trade should be looked at.

Thank you.
family Partnership./QUOTE]

This is really good.