NEW ARMS ACT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 82, 31 December 1920, Page 8

NEW ARMS ACT

IN FORCE TO-MORROW THE DRASTIC PROVISIONS EXPLAINED The Arms Act, 1920, comcs into forco to-morrow, Now Year's Day, and as its provisions are somewhat drastic, wido publicity is desirable. The iwsiession of nn automatic pistol 011 and after April 1, 1921, will bo an offence against tho Act. It will be illegal also to bo in possession of any part or parts intended or adopted for use as part of nn automatic pistol, or any ammunition for an automatic pistol. . Thus automatic pistols and ammunition for the same must be surrendered to the police, and compensation will be paid for tho value of all weapons in a serviceable condition, and for nil ammunition and parts surrendered.! Tho penalty' for being in possession of an unlawful weapon ig three months' imprisonment or a line of ,£IOO. Clause 4 pf tho Act provides that "Tile Minister of Defence may, by license in writing, authoriso any person who has served beyond the soas as n member of tho Now Zealand Expeditionary Force, or any near relative of thnt member, to retain possession of'any unlawful weapon which that member has used beyond the seas, or whi6h lie has brought with him from beyond the seas, subject, however, to such conditions as to user or custody as the said Minister may impose. Any such license may at «ny time bo revoked by the Minister withc.ut notice." Firearms Must be Registered. , All firoarms, including sporting rifles, ehot guns, nnd pea rifles, must be registered, and a certilionto of registration obtained from the police officer authorised , in that behalf. Anyone found in possession of nn unregistered firearm is liable on summary conviction to a fine of The officer issuing certificates may requiro an applicant to produce the firearm for - inspection, anil subject to tho provisions of tho Act the issue of a certificate of registration shall be a matter of' right. A. firearm purchased in pursuanco of «, permit. issued under tho Aot must also bo registered. Carriage of Pistols. It is declared to bo unlawful for any person to carry a pistol in any placo beyond'the limits of his dwellinghouso or'the cartilage thereof. A license must bo obtained to carry a pistol beyond the boundaries named, and the issuing officer may impose such conditions as ho thinks fit and revoke any such license at "anytime. , , Except ft licensed dealer, no person is permitted to procure the possession of any firearm, ammunition, or explosive, by way of purchase or in any other manner; unless a permit has been issued foT the purpose, and no person may sell or in any other manner deliver possession of any firearm, ■ ammunition, or explosive to any person except to one entitled to ob-. tain tho eamo by virtue of a permit Every permit for sale or transfer is to remain in forSe for six days, but may "be 'extended- , . ! Shot-guns of a kind ordinarily used in 'New Zealand for sporting purposes, or •ammunition, ordinarily, used for such shot-guns, can be transferred without a permit, but tho new owner must register the shot-gun. Every person who procures, or attempts to * procure, the jiosscssion of any firearm, ammunition, or explosive by way of trespass or otherwise without lawful right or title'thereto will be guilty of on offence and be liable in -'summary conviction'to imprisonment for three months, or ■to a fine of .£IOO, or on indictment to imprisonmont for three years. Presenting Firearms. Clause 13 of the Act'leads: "Every person who, except for some lawful and sufficient purpose, presents a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, at eny other person shall be guilty of an offence, and shall fce liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for two months, or to a lino of JE2O." Powers of the Police. The police officers arc given wide powers under tho Act. Any person suspected of having committed an oflcncc which 13 punishable by imprisonment may bo arrested without warrant? An officer of police may without war T rant search any person, or any vehicle, package, or other thing in his possession or nmlor his control, in any public place on suspicion. The Commissioner of Police, or any superintfndont, or inspector of police, if ho has reason to suspect that there is any house, building, land, vessel, or other premises any firearms, ammunition, or explosives, in respect of which any offence has boen or is about to be committed, may authorise any othcer or officers of police to search 6ucli

places. jj, Erery person who obstructs an omcer of police in the exercise of any right of search, seizure, or dotention, "becomes liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for three months, or to a fine ot .£IOO.

Areas May be Proclaimed. Tho Governor-General may from time to time by proclamation declare any sxjecified area its an area in which ,tho possession of firearms, ammunition, or wcplosives is prohibited. Threo, clear ;'days after the gazetting of the proclamation are allowed for tho surrender of the firearms, otc., by,all in* the area, except those who hold special' permits. No persoif may bring or solid, or cause to be brought off sent, into a proclaimed area any, iireanns, etc., save in pursuance of a permit The penalty is fixed at three months imprisonment or a fine ol' .£IOO on summary conviction, or on indictment to imprisonment for three years, 'and the burden of proving the existence and torma of any permit" will lie on the accused. Interpretation. "Owner" as used in relation to firearms includes any person for the time boing in possession thereof. "Pistol" means any firearmj the barrel of whichi does not exceed 12 inches m length. « . . ■' "Automatic pistol" includes not only the weapon known as an automatic pistol, but also every weapon <X a description substantially similar to tho weapon so known. , "Unlawful weapon" means an automatic pistol, and includes any other weapon, whether a firearm or Dot, that may be declared by the Governor-Gen-eral'by proclamation to be an unlawful weapon.