Police are now demanding more cash from the firearm licence holders. Heaps more. Why?
Because, it appears, the police is getting into the business of user pays.
To add some context, police used to be the government agency in charge of enforcing the firearms laws but changes since the Christchurch mosque shooting have given police power to also write regulations, administer and enforce them. The fox is now in the henhouse. The licensed firearm community is now faced with hefty increases to license fees because police say current fees do not reflect the true cost of administering these.
There’s no argument the application process for firearms licences, endorsements and renewals has blown out to ridiculous timeframes, but this is an indictment of police inefficiency and administrative incompetence. After all, it takes not time to get a driver’s licence or a passport—and both are still affordable. Why then, should law abiding firearms users—hunters, gamebird shooters and sports shooters—have to pay extra?
And what are these cost increases? They are eyewatering.
Take, for example, a young person getting into hunting or shooting, applying for their first firearms licence; was normally $126.50 for a 10 year licence, but they have already cut that to Five years —so it has already doubled in cost for what they get. The police want to increase this to $625.60 for… for it… five years. Then the 10 year renewal— normally $242.50—will cost $727.50.
For competition shooters like me, it gets worse. On top of my licence I have to pay for an endorsement so I can own and operate a pistol. No complaints there. An endorsement costs $204—well, used to; now it will sting me between $1350 and $1490. But wait, there’s more. Under new proposals, I will have to reapply for an endorsement EVERY time I renew my licence. Do the maths: that’s over two grand—and a firearm licence is only a fraction of the cost of being a compliant firearms user: gun safe, vehicle security etc.
The net effect of all this is it is financial discrimination and, by stealth, will discourage people from owning firearms—for many, it will put it in the too hard basket (or too bloody expensive). Many kids wanting to take up a healthy pursuit may miss out because it is priced beyond their means. Old blokes like Crimpy who hunt occasionally for the pot may think, “To hell with it… can’t afford that on the pension!” And the poor?
And this what the police and government want—to disarm the public. It is part of a move to legislate people out of firearm’s ownership. The police even state this in their proposal. But do we really want a Kiwi culture and society where only the Police and crims have guns?
Speak out: phone the Beehive 04 817 9999 or the PM at 04 817 6584, 04 567 0156 or Deputy PM 04 817 8708 or send an email chris. [email protected] he wanted the job and was Police Minister when this started. Call or email your local MP as well.
