Thread: What I got from gunstuff as an email, police looking to charge for paperwork

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

Well if they had left them as life time licences they wouldn't have all this extra work!

Life time licences were never going to work and just as well too for the benefit of all of us. Take for example someone who has a FAL and who develops a psychiatric disorder and the police aren't notified. At least the ten year renewal system has some chance of catching up with the issue at the spouse, partner or next of kin's interview. Also, there is a lot of firearm storage out there that needs upgraded security and this will be picked up with the renewal application. We don't need more criminals with stolen firearms.

The cost of a FAL application and subsequent issue is peanuts in NZ and a lot of work goes into it backstage. I doubt very much whether the fee charged covers half the administration and vetting costs involved. As you know, new firearms applicants have to attend the Mountain Safety Council lecture and pass the Firearms Code test. The running of the MSC is done by volunteers and lets be grateful it is.