THE ARMS ACT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19772, 9 November 1929, Page 23

THE ARMS ACT.

TO 'HE EDITOB Of TUB TBESS you are greatly to be eommeiidt.\ for your leading article in Wednesday- i>«no of Thk Pres< regarding the Arms Act Amendment Bill, for it is pos„;,je that no more idiotic or wasteful '.. ,|,j at ion than the Arms Act was ever pla.-ed on the Statute Book. However, while I agree you in the main, I take exception'to at least one of your statements in your sub-leader of today's issue, in the course of which yoo state rtat the prohibition of automatic ri'stols into this country is quite right and proper. Are you aware, that the automatic pistol is almost as super-

ior in efficiency and safety to the ordinary revolver as the modern breech-loader is to the muzzle-loader; and yet householders are allowed (with restrictions) to purchase revolvers for homo protection. I am the owner of a registered revolver, and the police have generously allowed me five rounds- of ammunition for the same. If a desperado should break into my house armed with the latest thing in automatics (your own assumption), I am expected to face him with an inferior weapon and possibly defective ammunition, and as I must necessarily be somewhat out of practice, the odds are decidedly not in my favour. What is not clear to me, however, is this: Should I be so fortunate as to dispose of my assailant, shall I be allowed more ammunition, or do I have to show five scalps to obtain five more cartridges? In the lato war we had to learn by bitter experience to meet a clever and unscrupulous foe on even terms. We had to meet frightfulness with frightfulness. Then, and only then, did we make appreciable progress, so surely if the importation of firearms into this country is permissible for the protection of life and property, the above principle holds good. In the Great War the New Zealanders held the distinction of being collectively the finest shots on the Western Front, and that distinction was due to their long familiarity of firearms as sportsmen, and not to acquaintance with the service rifle, but it seems that some nervous old gentlemen in Wellington, under the influence of Guy Fawkes Day, have decreed that this fooling about with things that go "bang" must not be encouraged.—Yours, etc., EX-MACHINE GUNNER. November 7th, 1929.