Thread: Warning shot for gun owners

Interesting article courtesy of Te Awamutu Courier, seems that finally people are being held accountable for dumb actions with firearms

Waikato police hope the loss of
two men’s firearms licences will
serve as a timely reminder to other
shooters to use firearms responsibly.
District firearms officer Richard
Plas said two 28-year-old men from
Cambridge and Te Awamutu
recently appeared in Hamilton District
Court on firearms-related
charges.
‘‘The charges relate to an incident
in November last year where
the pair were caught spotlighting by
a Department of Conservation
ranger in the vicinity of a campsite
in the Pureora Forest Park.
‘‘Fortunately, the ranger happened
to be camping on site and was
quickly able to stop them before any
shots were fired, preventing any
tragedy from occurring.’’
Mr Plas said it was unfortunate
that the pair ignored the lessons
learned in light of an occurrence in
the Kaimanawa Forest Park where
a woman, who was staying in a
Department of Conservation
campsite, was shot by a hunting
party spotlighting for deer.
‘‘Both men were found guilty and
had their firearms licences revoked.
We hope that these revocations
serve as a timely reminder to other
shooters that the licensed ownership
of firearms is a privilege, not a
right and as such, there are some
serious responsibilities shooters
need to adhere to.
Mr Plas said it is illegal for
hunters to hunt on Department of
Conservation land during the hours
of darkness, and campsites are well
sign-posted so there is no excuse for
this kind of activity.

Good work.

II support the actions of the ranger and the district court judge on this. We share public lands with others that are not in the hunting fraternity and we need to respect their right to have a safe experience while there.

Originally Posted by Baz

seems that finally people are being held accountable for dumb actions with firearms

Good news

When will people learn that is it illegal to spotlight on public land some people think that they can get a firearms license and then do whatever the hell they please. They should have gone looking for farms to spotlight after getting permission from the farm owners but clearly some people are too lazy to do that and prefer to hunt under cover of darkness and put everyone else in danger.

h308, i suspect that if these guys are willing to spotlight illegally on public land, they would be just as willing to poach or spotlight illegally on private land...

let's hope that their next step is not the typical "driving while disqualified" approach, but maybe illegal possession of firearm carries a slightly more severe penalty.

I'm in favour of this too.

Firearm ownership is a privilege and they should be used responsibly.

This privilege thing is an interesting approach.

For some a privilege maybe, but for others a way of life.

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

This privilege thing is an interesting approach.

From a legal approach, is what I meant.

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

This privilege thing is an interesting approach.

For some a privilege maybe, but for others a way of life.

Agree wirehunt but in this country never a right.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Agree wirehunt but in this country never a right.

And I think that the USA is the only country in the world where firearm ownership is a right.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Agree wirehunt but in this country never a right.

Bloody oath Rushy and we would all do well to remember that

It is the RIGHT of every FIT AND PROPER Kiwi to hold and use firearms within the law.

Spotlighting public camping grounds probably rules out the fit and proper bit

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

It is the RIGHT of every FIT AND PROPER Kiwi to hold and use firearms within the law.

Unfortunately nowhere in the Bill of Rights Act 1990 does it say that a New Zealander has a right to own a firearm.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Agree wirehunt but in this country never a right.

It was an implicit right before it became a privilege. The right to self defense is fundamental to all other rights. The right to self defense means nothing if you don't have the appropriate tools.