Thread: Media Firearms beat-up continues

Originally Posted by tommygun

I work at McCarthys and overheard that interview. In the interest of keeping my job I won't talk about my own opinions here, but bear in mind how the media like to spin things. After the online threat regarding the Otago University a journalist from the ODT came and asked me some questions at work about obtaining a pistol and here is the article that resulted 'Good chance' of tracing threat | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News
What I tried to explain was that pistols can be owned in NZ, but will be held under a C or B license. That anyone with a firearms license could buy ammunition that a handgun might be chambered for, which makes sense as many pistols are chambered in calibres that rifles also take, e.g. .22lr. I said each handgun is registered under the name of the owner, and (In theory) the police know exactly which handgun is owned by which licensed owner, however they obviously couldn't keep track of ones that were already owned illegally or ones smuggled into the country e.g. in a boat.
This is how she interpreted it:

"A Dunedin hunting and fishing store employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said the handgun posted with the threat online could be bought in New Zealand by a category C licence holder.

Bullets for the gun could be used for most category A (sporting) guns, so it would not be clear what the bullets were being bought for, the employee said.

Police kept a close eye on who owned handguns and obtaining one was a lengthy process.

However, they could not track stolen or imported guns, he said."

I'd talk to any journalist, but I'd be asking to read the article before it goes to print to make sure that I have not been quoted out of context!
My wife is a racing journalist. When talking to horse owners, trainers she quite often has to do this.
What your seeing there is a very poor form of journalism.
The other thing I'd do is make an appointment with the journalist who wants to talk to you. Also record what is being said.
As I'm sure that you where recorded.
It's also down to what the editor wants in the paper.
Over here you generally get paid by the word. But this need to fill a limited space.
So if the interviewed gave a long winded answer then there going to cut it short.
A lot of journalist won't agree to letting you read the article but then you don't have to agree to talking to them!!