THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1920, Page 6

THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

CONTROL OF FIREARMS, i PROVISIONS OF NEW ACL

A regulation with wide-reaching effects is the Arms Act, which comes into force on January 1, 1021, and the object of which is "to" make better provision for the public safety, by regulating the possession of arms, ammunition, and explosives." Particulars of the Act were recently received by Inspector Hutton, New Plymouth, and the police throughout Taranaki will devote some time during the next week or two towards putting the regulations in force. By a section of the Act the possession of automatic pistole and other unlawful weapons is prohibited, and anyone infringing this regulation of carrying a pistol is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for three months or a fine of £IOO. Soldiers' war trophies may be exempted from this clause, as provision is made for the issue, by the Minister of Defence, of a license authorising any person who has served beyond the seas as a member of the Expeditionary Force, or near relative of the soldier, to retain possession of any unlawful weapon, subject to such conditions as may be stipulated. The carriage of pistol? beyond 'the limits of the owner's dwelling house is forbidden except in special cases, in which a license will be issued by the Inspector of Police. All firms of this nature have to be delivered up to the police before April 1. Compensation will be paid for the value of all weapons in serviceable condition. A pistol is defined as any firearm, the barrel of which does not exceed 12 inches in length. The carriage of arms, ammunition or explosives except for some lawful purpose is prohibited, and the burden of proving the existence of such purpose is upon the owner. Section 9 of the Act provides that after the commencement of the Act it shall not be lawful for anv person other than a. licensed dealer to be in possession for a period longer than one month of any firearm, unless he is registered as the owlier under the new Act. Registration shall be effected by obtaining a certificate from the police, and the applicant is required to furnish description of the firearm. Under the Police Offences Act a firearm is defined as "any gun or pistol of less calibre than .30.1, whether acting by force of gunpowder or no't," so that the Act applies to even sporting weapons and'air guns. The penalty on conviction for non-registration is £SO. ' The Act makes provision for the licensing of dealers in arms, ammunition and explosives, and the search of suspected persons or buildings without warrant. Any person ''reasonably suspected of having, committed an offence against this Act, which is punishable by imprisonment," may be arrested without warrant. The Governor-General may proclaim areas in which the possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives is prohibited.

Section 13 makes interesting reading. Its purpose is to prohibit presenting of firearms at other persmis_ and the authorities probably hope to minimise the number of accidents which often arise from the careless handling of weapons, The section reads: —Every person who, except for some lawful and sufficient purpose, presents a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, at any other person shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for two months, or to a fine of £2O.