THE PEA RIFLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 310, 23 May 1913, Page 5

THE PEA RIFLE.

A SOCIAL MENACE. JUDGE COOPER'S OPINION. Auckland, May 20. Tlio "menace to the public safety arising out of lads being in possession of peavilli's was thi! siilijict of comment by Mr. Justice Cooper at the Supreme Court today. His Honor's remarks arose out of a recent shooting tragedy near Whangarei, which resulted' in a lad, Edward Augustine Kheehan, pleading "guilty" to a charge of manslaughter. After committing the lad to St. Mary's Home, his Honor said that ho wished to pass on to the public the question of the use of pea-rifles by young lads. "This practice," said bis Honor, "has been productive of a great deal of harm to the community. Many fatal accidents have been caused by the use of these weapons by young children, who have no business.? to have firearms in their possession. I really don't think that the public can know the law in this respect. Under the Police Offences Act of 1008 it is not lawful to sell or supply firearms, or any kind of ammunition, to a person under the age of sixteen. Neither is it lawful for any person, under the age of sixteen years, to have firearms or ammunition in his possession. The evidence in the present case shows that, on the Sunday morning when the tragedy occurred, these young lads discharged no fewer than 200 cartridges, and each cartridge—had it struck anyone—might have caused serious injuries. I cannot understand (with the law as it now stands) how it is that, for some years past, lads have obtained possession of these pea-rifles, and the necessary ammunition."

His Honor went on to urge an amendment of the Police Offences Act in the direction of investing policemen with power to confiscate pea-rifles or other fire-arms and ammunition found in the possession of bovs who are manifestly under the age of sixteen. As the law stood at present (said his Honor) confiscation was only legal after a conviction had been entered against a lad for having a firearm in his possession. "I believe," continued his Honor, "that manv of these accident would have been avoided if, when a constable saw a boy of under sixteen years with a pea-rifle, he had the authority of the law to take that pea-rifle. I hone mv remarks will reach the ears of the authorities, and that the law will be amended in the direction indicated. Ido not wish it to be understood that I object to lads being taiurht the use of the rifle for the purnose of national defence, and neither do I object to efficiency being acquired in the use of the rifle for snorting nurposes. What I do object to is the positive menace to the community caused by nearifles in the hands of voung bovs.' This is a public question of importance." Mr. Tole (Crown Prosecutor) informed his Honor that the police already confiscated pea-rifles when thev were found in possession of lads under sixteen.

His Honor: I am verv glad that the police have adopted this course. What is wanted, however, is that thev should have statutory authority in such cases.