REGISTRATION OF FIREARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 309, 28 December 1920, Page 5

REGISTRATION OF FIREARMS.

NEW LAW TO OPERATE. LOCATING EVERY 'WEAPON. Rocent advices from America depict a wave of crime of unprecedented violence which has swept many of the -States and relates the drastic measures that have been authorised to combat it. Such a state of affa-irs was not altogether unexpected with the cessation of the war. and it is with full cognisance of this that the New Zealand Government has decided upon drastic curtailment in the use of firearms which have been used so indiscriminately where the law ami order of a country has been disturbed. The new arms law comes into operation in the Dominion on January 1. It prescribes first of all for the registration of all firearms, ammunition and explosives, and declares possession of some weapons as "unlawful." The latter applies to automatic revolvers, and these must all be surrendered to the police within three months from the date of operation of the Act. There is one reservation: returned soldiers or a near relative can retain possession on the receipt of a special permission from the Minister of Defence. This will only be forthcoming when it is proved to the satisfaction of the Minister that the weapon was acquired on service. Prior to seeking the permission of the Minister the automata must be registered under the special facilities provided by the police, and in the same time prescribed for any other firearm—one month. As far as other owners of automatics are concerned they have the alternative of destroying, exporting, or handing over the weapon to the police, and the Government will, if it is in serviceable condition, make compensation. The automatic is at present the only weapon that has fallen under the ban of unlawful, but the Governor -General is empowered to so designate any other weapon should the necessity arise. The effect of the regulations regarding other firearms is to locate each and all which will be effected by making it an offence to retain an unregistered weapon. A permit will be issued by the Superintendent or Inspector of police for the retention of pistols at his discretion when particulars are supplied as to the abode of possessor, how, when, and where the article was acquired. Once the permit _ granted it is compulsory to notify within six days any change of address. Shot guns must also be registered, but a permit for their acquisition is not necessary. The Commissioner of Police may authorise that ammunition for small sporting rifles not exceeding o_2in calibre may be purchased or sold without a permit for such limited areas and periods of time as he deems fit, and this provision is now being exercised locally. Trafficking in firearms and ammunition is prohibited except by licensed dealers who have" been granted a permit. The duties of a, possessor once having registered his weapon are not then concluded. If it is desired to carry it from the dwelling-houce a permit must first be obtained. The police arc empowered to search any person or building for unlawfully possessed weapons. The penalties for breaches of the regulations are severe, a new departure being adopted in regard to the pointing of a firearm. This is now. punishable, be it loaded or not, with a; fine of £20 or two months' imprisor- 1 ment. Amongst other regulations is; that which provides for the Governor- j General in an exigency to proclaim areas where arms are absolutely prohibited. " I Ample provision has been made by j the local police for the necessary registration and formalities to be complied with, and a depot has been established just below the lockup at the corner of Princes Street and O'Rorke Street. Here Sergeant Fox is in charge, and he will supply the application forms containing all particulars. The point is emphasised that all registration must be completed by April 1, and the possession of any firearm not then notified then becomes an offence. ACT URGENTLY NEEDED. Speaking of the Arms Act this morning to a ' ~tar" reporter the Right Hon. W. F. IMassey said the measure was urgently needed, judging from the reports the Government had received from the authorities. Something had' to be done, especially in regard to auto- j matic pistols, which were possessed in ' much greater numbers in the Dominion j than was the case some years ago. The j war, of course, had a great deal to do .jrit_ihe iacreasfc -,-, ~ ~