So far 170,000 arms licences issued

Press, 30 August 1984, Page 15

So far 170,000 arms licences issued

Policemen issuing firearms licences under the new Fire Arms Act have so far turned down about one applicant in every 1700. The police had issued 170,000 licences in the three months since the relicensing programme began, said the co-ordinator of Project Foresight, Inspector Alastair McCallum.

About 100 persons had been refused licences and the police were investigating about 350 others to determine whether they were suitable to have licences.

All persons who own or use firearms have until January 31 next year to obtain a licence which costs $ll and is valid for life. Persons with mental health problems or who associate with known criminals or drug users are among those who will not be granted licences.

Mr McCallum said that persons rejected could appeal to a District Court judge, although no-one had

yet done so. The police could also review the refusal if a person’s circumstances changed. The police have a list of about 4000 people who are not allowed a licence. They are mainly people with seri-. ous criminal convictions. In Christchurch the police have rejected licence applications from 15 persons who were already prohibited form owning firearms. Three other persons have been rejected because the police felt they were not suitable to hold them. Sergeant Warren Sawers said that about 22,000 of the 31,000 licence application forms sent out in Canterbury had been returned to the police. About 18,000 licences had already been issued. Firearms owners who have returned the licence applications, or have already received their licences, should disregard the reminder notices which are being sent to all applicants.