Thread: Gun confiscated as Marlborough farmers battle quake trauma

We lost two locals in the last month Young fellas under 50

I feel for those involved, but from my point of view this is unlawful seizure/overstepping and quite frankly, insulting. They can stay the hell away from my guns.

Originally Posted by mcdeee

I feel for those involved, but from my point of view this is unlawful seizure/overstepping and quite frankly, insulting. They can stay the hell away from my guns.

The confiscation is not unilateral, its situational. The confiscation is where there is real or apparent risk of self harm. Protecting people from themselves. That is what a caring community does.

Marlborough police community constable Russell Smith confirmed police had intervened and seized a weapon for someone's own safety.

The process of dispossessing weapons was more than a simple confiscation, Smith said.

"Obviously it wouldn't be good to swoop in and stress them out even more, we engage directly with help," he said.

"When there are concerns around somebody's state of mind that is certainly reason for police to remove firearms and their licence."

Originally Posted by mcdeee

I feel for those involved, but from my point of view this is unlawful seizure/overstepping and quite frankly, insulting. They can stay the hell away from my guns.

Are you suicidal? Is that why you want them to stay away?

Originally Posted by mcdeee

I feel for those involved, but from my point of view this is unlawful seizure/overstepping and quite frankly, insulting. They can stay the hell away from my guns.

nobody denies your fundamental right to yourPOV @mcdee, but in reality this is not a seizure in the punitive(ielawbreaking)sense but one of compassionate actions due to a real risk of a fatal outcome of a persons thinking.to that end i say bravo to both the police but also the person who had the gumption to say"whoa hold on this is too risky we need it sorted pronto"
you'd be suprised at the number of suicidal people I ve spoken to who initially think "youre the biggest c..tin christendom for thwarting their plans",but once the problem is sorted quietly thank everyone for being there to act and support them in moments of desperation.
even the worlds best mortician /embalmer /undertaker cannot remake a face ripped apart by a self inflicted shotgun /rifle shot. Iknow one who reverted to the bottle big time after dealing with two cases like this ,poor bastard.It ruined him.
regardless of youre POV though just look after yourself and ya mates .thats all we can ask.

Originally Posted by mcdeee

I feel for those involved, but from my point of view this is unlawful seizure/overstepping and quite frankly, insulting. They can stay the hell away from my guns.

It's not unlawful or overstepping at all, and is quite reasonable in the circumstances.

Most get them back or are passed on to family members.

I think the article itself is the worst bit, going with gun confiscation as a negative as opposed to how the Police and other organizations are try hard to help people through an obviously very difficult time

Originally Posted by Chilli_Dog

I think the article itself is the worst bit, going with gun confiscation as a negative as opposed to how the Police and other organizations are try hard to help people through an obviously very difficult time

What's negative about stopping shooting themselves? Or sometimes others as well?

I think you have got him wrong - he is supportive of the removal and what police and others are trying to do to help but feels the article itself had a negative slant.

I had to read the posting twice as initially I took it the wrong way.

Yes all, I do get it and I don't necessarily disagree (and there are many good points made in this post). However, I do feel that there are a lot of hypotheticals, especially when it comes to a determination (qualified?) about a person's state of mind. I'm more speaking in general terms here.

determination (qualified)??????????????? about a persons state of mind.????????

Do they get any kind of care afterwards? Pretty pointless to take the guns, give them a pat on the back and have them kill themselves another way.

They get passed to the mental health crisis team.

You don't have to be qualified to make a basic assessment. Normally they've already made an attempt or threatened to commit suicide, or they have some other issue where they're making threats to other people and/or acting in a bizarre manner.

Originally Posted by mcdeee

Yes all, I do get it and I don't necessarily disagree (and there are many good points made in this post). However, I do feel that there are a lot of hypotheticals, especially when it comes to a determination (qualified?) about a person's state of mind. I'm more speaking in general terms here.

You are likely the only one. Neither the article, or police "confiscating" firearms is about general terms. Its about taking a risk management approach towards people who have been identified by their peers and friends as likely to harm themselves in the context of a highly stressed post quake environment. A laudable approach.

Originally Posted by Savage1

They get passed to the mental health crisis team.

You don't have to be qualified to make a basic assessment. Normally they've already made an attempt or threatened to commit suicide, or they have some other issue where they're making threats to other people and/or acting in a bizarre manner.

Thats where problems often arise,as obviously savage &myself plus others will be aware .
A lot of people these days think its "None of my business" or "so&so -just the piss talking''or its just the way he is".....years ago that may have been "the case",but given events of recent times and freely acknowledged humungous stress loads some people try to exist under ,frequently given of corse being those in agricultural employment,What we need to do is change the attitude .its as simple as if you hear your mate or someone you know mouthing off ,and it strikes you as unusual or you know its out of character,make a mental note of it.If hes talking self harm or similar then say something,tell some one you ve got concerns.we'd all hope its just a bit of venting of pressure ,but often it is simply the first sign the maelstrom is about to erupt.
hindsight is valuable(though if so,why dont we all have a spare set of eyes on our arse cheeks),but alas too late.
If you think im preaching _im fucking not cause in my case standing to attention for the caskets 14 nursing colleagues who did the deed by their own hand over 37yrs,is not a fact that I can confront comfortably ,nor neccessarily put down as a fact of life.I often look back and think was it "something I missed".likewise those who have suicided whilst in my care -not as many thank christ but my reaction is still the same.this is not a professional problem -this is for everyone to be aware of ,and if in doubt do something.