Thread: What do you think and where do I stand?

To me the way it should have been handled was approach us find out what was going on go back to the complaintent advise them then return to us with what was happening. To me all we can be done for is disturbing the peace

Guns are evil, you must be treated as a criminal

Did the neighbors know you were using a shotgun and not a rifle?
Did they know that you were shooting away from them?
Did they know that it was sports shooting?
Was gunfire from the particular residence you were at an unusual event?
Do you know that the whole western world is nervous about unexplained or unusual gunshots, and that that includes the police?

You likely won't like what I have said. But I'm just giving another perspective. Given the current world situation, and an increasing violent community, we need to put ourselves in other people's shoes before we start blazing away.

I'm not surprised by the police reaction. Its what I call "natural consequences". So what if all of the police don't fully understand the firearms act. Their role is to keep people safe. Full stop.

If you weren't at fault, I expect nothing else will happen.

Exactly the same thing happened to a guy in Nelson. Shooting a shotgun on his lifestyle block, got an armed offenders response. From memory the charge was discharging a firearm in a way that frightened someone.
It will be this section

48Discharging firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near dwellinghouse or public place
Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to both who, without reasonable cause, discharges a firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near—
(a)a dwellinghouse; or
(b)a public place,—
so as to endanger property or to endanger, annoy, or frighten any person.
Compare: 1958 No 21 s 16(2B), (3); 1964 No 36 s 6(1)
Section 48: amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
Section 48: amended, on 1 November 1992, by section 25 of the Arms Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 95).


My advice is get a lawyer specialised in firearms law, there is one that advertises in NZHunter and a few of the firearms magazines. Be prepared to spend a few thousand to keep your licence.

If they seized your license and firearms, they must provide a written Firearm revocation notice.

If and when you get your firearm and license back, you might want to consider visiting the local clay target club in future. The days of letting rip on anything other than a designated range are long gone. Maybe ok on a big farm, but lifestyle block , only one neighbour has to feel uncomfortable or threatened for it to turn to custard. It is just the way of the modern world...

Good luck and let us know the result, might act as usefull info for other guys in similar situation down the line.

Blasted off 100 rnds today with no worries other than I have to reload the buggers again.

I feel for you guys in situations like that. Most of the local cops here are poachers/hunters so all good. Fireworks make more noise imo. There is always some going off somewhere eh.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Tristan, have you heard anything more regarding the incident.

Armed police called out to Ruby Bay | Stuff.co.nz
I will try and find the follow up post from this also

Armed police swoop seen as 'over the top' | Stuff.co.nz

Police defend response to shots | Stuff.co.nz

"Hodge said he thought the person who called the police must have been from Wellington and never heard a gun before."

strange , as im from wellington , and would have been with you shooting the shit out of those clays

I also notice , or maybe I missed it , not one of those 3 stuff articles mentions taking your firearms ....not having a go , just trying to understand

Originally Posted by stumpy

I also notice , or maybe I missed it , not one of those 3 stuff articles mentions taking your firearms ....not having a go , just trying to understand

It is a different incident, happened in Nelson in 2013, not Tristan's incident.

Originally Posted by stug

My advice is get a lawyer specialised in firearms law, there is one that advertises in NZHunter and a few of the firearms magazines. Be prepared to spend a few thousand to keep your licence.

Nicholas Taylor?
He's a babbling idiot when push comes to shove in front of a judge.

Few thousand is 'many'