Amnesty over for shooters

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 33, 5 February 1985, Page 3

Amnesty over for shooters

Five pistols and three rifles yyere handed into Ohakune police during the eight months firearms amnesty which ended on Thursday. However, scores of Ruapehu region shooters successfully applied for firearms licences under the new law, which should make the administration of firearms ownership much easier for the authorities. Three of the five pistols handed into the police have been returned to their owners — one-owner was granted a licence to possess the pistol and another two pistols were classified as antiques by the police. Antique weapons are not subject to the new Firearms Act. The other two pistols which were surrendered are currently still held by police while enquiries are made. Similarly two of the three rifles handed in are still under enquiry, but it is anticipated they will be returned to their owners once they have been issued with firearms licences. The third rifle, which was in poor condition, was donated to the Mountain Safety Council as an instructing aid. The donation was made by the gun's owner, through the police. From now on would-be firearm owners will be required to study the arms code, attend a Mountain Safety Council firearms lecture and pass a stringent written test. The rifle donated to the Council will be used as an aid during the lectures. Sergeant Neil Coker said at the weekend that it was not possible to give an exact figure for the number of people from the Ruapehu region who have been issued with new firearms licences as the applications from this area are sent to Wanganui and there is no break-down of the numbers for each police region. However, he said there had been quite a number of people collecting application forms from the Ohakune police station during the eight month period, with a 'last minute rush' of about thirty applicants in the past two weeks alone.