FIREARMS AND MINORS
Prosecution Under New Act It is an offence under the new Arms Act for a person under 16 yeirs of age to have a firearm in his possession, and an offence for a person between the ages of 16 afid 21 years to have a firearm in nis possession without a police permit. It is similarly an offence to sell to or transfer to a minor a firearm. When Maurice Patrick Wilkins, of Little Riven pleaded guilty at a sitting of the Akaroa Magistrate’s Court to a charge of transferring a shotgun to a youth of 16 without a police permit, he was convicted and discharged by Mr E. A. Lee. S.M. Senior-Sergeant P. Mather, who prosecuted, said that it was probably the first charge brought under this particular section of the act. The case arose when Wilkins transferred his shotgun to the youth, who subsequently was badly wounded in the right forearm by accidental discharge of the gun. The Magistrate said that the act had been passed last year, and had come into force on February 1. No doubt the provision had been introduced for the very good reason of preventing irresponsible persons from getting hold of firearms without scrutiny first by the police.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28950, 18 July 1959, Page 17
Word Count
208FIREARMS AND MINORS Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28950, 18 July 1959, Page 17
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