(October 2, 2015 at 6:10 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: I had to look this up, as I've never even remotely considered purchasing a firearm or any sort. This is the process that must be followed in order to obtain a firearms license in New Zealand (you cannot own a firearm without a license):
1. You contact your local police station and arrange to take a firearms safety course (you can ONLY take these at a police station. Private course are not permitted for licensing purposes).
2. Pass the test given at the end of the course.
3. If you pass, you will be given an application. Fill it out and head for the PostShop (NB: On the application form, you will be asked for the names, contact information of two people who will vouch for your suitability to own and/or use a firearm. The people WILL be interviewed).
4. At the PostShop, you pay the application fee ($126.50 and up) and have two passport-type photos taken.
5. Go back to the police station, bringing your photos, your application, proof that you completed the safety course, three forms of identification, and the receipt from PostShop that you've paid the fees required. Once all this checks, you make an appointment for a police officer to visit your home.
6. Sit the interview with the police officer. S/he will determine if you 1) have a history of violence; 2) repeated instances of drug use or drug dealing; 3) a history of irresponsibility with alcohol; 4) involvement with other people deemed unsuitable to be given access to firearms; 5) indicate an intent to use a firearm for self-defense. Any of the will preclude you getting a license.
The officer will then quiz you about and inspect your security arrangements for firearms. If you do not have separate secure storage for firearms and ammunition (you can't keep them in the same place), you will not be issued a license.
7. The officer will then make arrangements to interview your references in person. A bad interview with a reference will result in you not getting a license.
The license is good for 10 years, and must be renewed. In the interim, your license can be revoked for any of the reasons given above.
Of course, if you opt not to have a license, you can still do sport shooting. But you can only do so with a licensee in good standing supervising you ('supervising' means standing close enough to reach your gun). The supervisor may not operate a firearm at the same time you're operating yours. If they're caught doing so, their license will be revoked.
That seems pretty onerous, dunnit? And yet there are over a million firearms in the hands of EnZeds, and nobody shoots up schools.
Boru
Seems reasonable to me. If one owns a tool designed to deal death, one ought to have the obligation to demonstrate the capacity of mind assuring that society at large isn't in danger from said ownership.