Thread: Firearms Safety Authority: Firearms Data & Public Information

A quick visit to the Firearms Safety Authority website provides easy access to: Firearms Data & Public Information - Firearms Public Dashboard August 2024 PDF, which illustrates:

- Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders by Police District 231,874
- Firearms Licence Holders Registered 56,032
- That is only 24% of Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders

So the questions:

1: What's holding you back from registering?
2: Why should the Firearms Registry be "Under review," when statistically 76% of Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders are NOT even registered yet, which means statistically there is no accurate database on which to draw any conclusions as to whether the register is working or not?

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

Why should the Firearms Registry be "Under review," when statistically 76% of Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders are NOT even registered yet, which means statistically there is no accurate database on which to draw any conclusions as to whether the register is working or not?

Pretty sure that's not how statistical samples work. Regardless, why would total registration be a prerequisite to review the registry? In the words of her toothiness, "I reject the premise of your question".

I think that may be the point. 3/4 of the firearms licence holders haven't registered.

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

A quick visit to the Firearms Safety Authority website provides easy access to: Firearms Data & Public Information - Firearms Public Dashboard August 2024 PDF, which illustrates:

- Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders by Police District 231,874
- Firearms Licence Holders Registered 56,032
- That is only 24% of Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders

So the questions:

1: What's holding you back from registering?
2: Why should the Firearms Registry be "Under review," when statistically 76% of Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders are NOT even registered yet, which means statistically there is no accurate database on which to draw any conclusions as to whether the register is working or not?

I suspectthat the answer to your first question will revolve around a great deal of mistrust, which thereby reinforces the reason and application of the review. Rather that your questions, pehaps the review should consider
3: Why is it that after 15 months that ONLY 24% of licensed firearms owners have signed up? If it was a good idea surely they would sign up faster......
4: How many of those were 'forced' to sign up as they had no choice (renewal of license due, or new license applications or endorsement holders on 12month renewals)
5: And with this level of distrust and lack of support how will it ever be effective or are the Police being given a sieve to carry water...

Originally Posted by timattalon

I suspectthat the answer to your first question will revolve around a great deal of mistrust, which thereby reinforces the reason and application of the review. Rather that your questions, pehaps the review should consider
3: Why is it that after 15 months that ONLY 24% of licensed firearms owners have signed up? If it was a good idea surely they would sign up faster......
4: How many of those were 'forced' to sign up as they had no choice (renewal of license due, or new license applications or endorsement holders on 12month renewals)
5: And with this level of distrust and lack of support how will it ever be effective or are the Police being given a sieve to carry water...

In all fairness, I think the Police ASKED for the water carrying sieve.

I think the Firearms Safety Authority (The Police and whichever Political party was in power at the time the decision was made) made a fundamental mistake in allowing five years in which to register. In five years will be three different political structures, all of whom can tamper with the registry and Firearms Act.

Five years also plays into the hands of Registered Firearms users who;

- Don't want to be the first Guinea pig?
- Procrastinate until the "Last possible moment!"
- Feel "Wronged" or "Victimised!"
- Are Straw Byers who still have five years to keep trading...

What would have been smarter would have been to allow SIX MONTHS to register, which would have prevent the current cluster of a review.

How would you feel if the Firearms Safety Authority and Police implemented a new Registration date of 31 March 2025?

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

How would you feel if the Firearms Safety Authority and Police implemented a new Registration date of 31 March 2025?

I feel that I hope they confiscate your guns first.

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

I think the Firearms Safety Authority (The Police and whichever Political party was in power at the time the decision was made) made a fundamental mistake in allowing five years in which to register. In five years will be three different political structures, all of whom can tamper with the registry and Firearms Act.

Five years also plays into the hands of Registered Firearms users who;

- Don't want to be the first Guinea pig?
- Procrastinate until the "Last possible moment!"
- Feel "Wronged" or "Victimised!"
- Are Straw Byers who still have five years to keep trading...

What would have been smarter would have been to allow SIX MONTHS to register, which would have prevent the current cluster of a review.

How would you feel if the Firearms Safety Authority and Police implemented a new Registration date of 31 March 2025?

I'm one of those procrastinators simply because A: I have no need to register for a few years and B:Any system that was so rushed into service was bound to be full of mistakes.

I do believe that there is a need for the register but just didn't feel the need to volunteer to be one of the first lab rats.

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

I think the Firearms Safety Authority (The Police and whichever Political party was in power at the time the decision was made) made a fundamental mistake in allowing five years in which to register. In five years will be three different political structures, all of whom can tamper with the registry and Firearms Act.

Five years also plays into the hands of Registered Firearms users who;

- Don't want to be the first Guinea pig?
- Procrastinate until the "Last possible moment!"
- Feel "Wronged" or "Victimised!"
- Are Straw Byers who still have five years to keep trading...

What would have been smarter would have been to allow SIX MONTHS to register, which would have prevent the current cluster of a review.

How would you feel if the Firearms Safety Authority and Police implemented a new Registration date of 31 March 2025?

Straw buyers won't potentially be affected by the registry until either a firearm turns up somewhere it shouldn't be and it hasn't had the serial numbers scrubbed or they come up for a check or review due to some other reason. There is currently no physical checking on registered items that I'm aware of as it would be a shocking workload...

Not enough resources to achieve registration in a shorter time frame, would likely collapse the system!

As far as why not, well I haven't had a triggering event and it's likely going to be a multiple phone call pain in my arse scenario. When I've got a lot more spare time I'll look into it but while I've got bigger problems they will take priority.

Originally Posted by Fatberg

I feel that I hope they confiscate your guns first.

Ad Hominem Rules!

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

Ad Hominem Rules!

Except that registration has always been a precursor for confiscation.

Of course, I'm certain that New Zealand will be the exception to the pattern.

Like a Tui, anyone?

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

A quick visit to the Firearms Safety Authority website provides easy access to: Firearms Data & Public Information - Firearms Public Dashboard August 2024 PDF, which illustrates:

- Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders by Police District 231,874
- Firearms Licence Holders Registered 56,032
- That is only 24% of Active Individual Firearms Licence Holders

So the questions:

1: What's holding you back from registering?

I am not registering before I have to because I distrust and dislike the registry and registration.
I do not believe that registry data can and will be kept safe - look at the drivers license database breaches for example.
Registry data can and will be come a shopping list for criminals - where the guns are.

The system is too new to have its bugs identified and fixed. I don't want to be a beta tester for a system I do not trust.


I am not registering before I have to because I do not believe the registry will achieve the aims for which it was proposed.
Illegal possession and use of firearms will not be stopped by the registry.

I have structured my affairs so that I will not have to register until the very last moment.
I renewed my FAL early and brought sufficient ammunition to last.

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

How would you feel if the Firearms Safety Authority and Police implemented a new Registration date of 31 March 2025?

I would be even more annoyed and angry with the system if that change were to be made.

I was promised 5 years and will wait for almost all of that time.

The system wouldn't be able to cope with a influx of registrations if the period was shorted to March 2025.

Only a fool would suggest that change.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

I am not registering before I have to because I distrust and dislike the registry and registration.
I do not believe that registry data can and will be kept safe - look at the drivers license database breaches for example.
Registry data can and will be come a shopping list for criminals - where the guns are.

The system is too new to have its bugs identified and fixed. I don't want to be a beta tester for a system I do not trust.


I am not registering before I have to because I do not believe the registry will achieve the aims for which it was proposed.
Illegal possession and use of firearms will not be stopped by the registry.

I have structured my affairs so that I will not have to register until the very last moment.
I renewed my FAL early and brought sufficient ammunition to last.

Thank you @Cyclops for taking the time to write a detailed response. I think there are many firearms owners who share your concerns. The "Last minute," mindset is well entrenched in NZ society, and also in my own life practices.

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

I think the Firearms Safety Authority (The Police and whichever Political party was in power at the time the decision was made) made a fundamental mistake in allowing five years in which to register. In five years will be three different political structures, all of whom can tamper with the registry and Firearms Act.

Five years also plays into the hands of Registered Firearms users who;

- Don't want to be the first Guinea pig?
- Procrastinate until the "Last possible moment!"
- Feel "Wronged" or "Victimised!"
- Are Straw Byers who still have five years to keep trading...

What would have been smarter would have been to allow SIX MONTHS to register, which would have prevent the current cluster of a review.

How would you feel if the Firearms Safety Authority and Police implemented a new Registration date of 31 March 2025?

Do you honestly think their capable of handling the intake over a shorter period, some of the persons on reception seem to be struggling with a five year period. Did a change of ownership this morning, the registration person was informing me to make sure the buyer used the right procedure to transfer the firearm to his license, not to just register it. Told him I've done my bit, what the buyer does is out of my jurisdiction, was told if not done correctly will show the same firearm registered to 2 license holders.