Thread: Registry to stay??

Originally Posted by Oscar

Same. Cant see the Register being a real help, based on the Australian experience, but hope it wont be a harm. It's a pity the funding couldn't be used more productively.

What I would like to see is a compromise - if the less-familiar side get their Register, it comes with a return of E-Category for all semi-automatic centrefire rifles.

Compromise is not in the opposition's lexicon.

Originally Posted by Oscar

Same. Cant see the Register being a real help, based on the Australian experience, but hope it wont be a harm. It's a pity the funding couldn't be used more productively.

What I would like to see is a compromise - if the less-familiar side get their Register, it comes with a return of E-Category for all semi-automatic centrefire rifles.

Yes, how many critical timeframe cancer treatments, critical timeframe heart condition interventions and critical care staffers could that money be used for? It is in real terms the equivalent of Nelson Hospital having the issues they are having, or being correctly funded and resourced. The Registry is a useless panacea that in real terms is killing vulnerable Kiwi's.

Apart from that, if it can be kept secure, the inaccuracies and "close enough's" removed and/or corrected and not abused by power crazed idiots who manage to find themselves in a position of power I don't see much downside...

I put the following comment on the goodoil article comments section this morning\;


10 hours ago
I am in two minds about this. There seems very little chance of the register working, and a lot of potential for the data to leak. But a lot of the public believe it will stop crime, and a lot of MPs agree. Ultimately in democracy the people should get what they want, perhaps McKee and ACT should just express strongly worded objections, clearly state the issues, and wait a few years to be proven correct. Personally I would far prefer they focused on the semi auto issue, and get wider and easier access for shooters for pest control and competitions, rather than fight against the register.

ACT are in an awkward political position here in that any future firearms crime will be blamed on them regardless of what they do, or on logic. From the perspective of someone wanting wider semi auto access, I see political advantages in keeping the register. We all know that criminals are importing drugs, guns etc regularly. If we get wider access to semi autos and maintain a register of all legal firearms then comparing criminal use to legal use will be easier. Even Cahill might have difficulty blaming licensed shooters for crimes once the register is fully implemented, and unlicensed firearms alone are turning up in crime stats.

So I think the register will be a very costly failure, but it's not in the interests of legal shooters to oppose it. We have more to gain politically from keeping it than the anti-gun crowd do, who are creating their own failure.

As for the impact of data breaches, yes this is an issue, particualrly for inner city people who'se neighbours have no idea they own firearms. For farmers such as myself it's far less of an issue, I don't know any farms without firearms so the criminals already know where to look for them. We are already potential targets. From a future political potential I suggest register data breaches will gain far more sympathy for the legal shooters than for the rabid anti-gun crowd.

The register will inevitably prove to be a costly waste of item but I think shooters have more to lose than gain now by opposing it, if it was dumped we'd still be blamed for all future firearms crime, keep it in place and the blame shifts firmly away from us back to criminals, and eventually the public will be looking for answers to budget blow outs and future firearm crime that will by then be clearly shown to not be caused by us.

Didn't the recent government law consultation clearly say that the firearms registry was out of scope for any submissions?

Originally Posted by John Duxbury

Didn't the recent government law consultation clearly say that the firearms registry was out of scope for any submissions?

Yes, nor did it say there would be opportunity to make further submissions.

Originally Posted by Oscar

Are there any legal issues for the Forum sharing that? It is the digital equivalent of nicking a paper from the supermarket.

Stop pearl-clutching and try living with a sense of adventure

Ben makes good points upthread but I honestly believe that the tactical political sense of who wins and loses will be eclipsed by the first home invasion that can be traced back to the inevitable data breach from the govt - this is a shopping list for crooks

Originally Posted by 308

Stop pearl-clutching and try living with a sense of adventure

Nicking other people’s work isn’t adventure to me. YMMV

Originally Posted by 308

Stop pearl-clutching and try living with a sense of adventure

Stop just giving people shit and try to add something useful for once.