Arms and the journalist ...

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 16

Arms and the journalist ...

By

DAVID WILSON

The gun dealer thought for a moment before replying to the question he regarded as having come from a buffoon masquerading as a journalist "Would you mind repeating that?” he asked. I said that a rumour had reached our ears that a Fijian gentleman was reported to be in Christchurch, attempting to buy bulk orders of Russian AK47 assault rifles for shipment back to Fiji. “That's what I thought you said ” he said. ... Well? I asked. "That” and he was choosing his words carefully, "would be one of the craziest — and untrue rumoursl 'have ever heard in tab dty. Where did you hear it?” Tricky question that Like most wild rumours it probably had its origins in a public bar and in two jugs time was accepted as fact By the time it reached our ears an earnest informant was assuring us the Fijian buyer wanted an initial 200 rifles with a follow-up order of a further 300 weapons. ; in journalism even the wildest rumours must be checked for the possible grain of truth. In reality

the truth-to-rumour ratio is about one in 200 claims. The firearms dealer seemed more amused than bemused. “What a crazy idea. Think about it and you’ll see why.” Then he added: “Do you really think a Fijian revolutionary would travel all the way to Christchurch to buy guns, and then walk into the local gunsmith to buy a bulk lot?”

Good question. Much as our local firearms shops offer an interesting array of weaponry, none of the stores promotes itself with the slogan: “Counter-revolutions specially catered for. Free delivery within the Pacific.” ■ JsF Neither does the rumour take into account the small matter of the little red firearms licence the mythical visitor would have to display before acquiring his arsenal.

And just how would a bulk buyer broach the matter with the gunshop salesman? “Good morning, I am new to this city but I would like to see an assortment of semi-automatic rifles, please.” The police are known to take an interest in such people.

How would our anonymous gun-runner pay for his arsenal? "Ah, 500 Chinese AK47 rifles at $699 each, sir, works out at $349,500. Cash or charge, sir?” "American Express?” "Oh that will do nicely, sir.” Doesn’t happen that way, not in real life.

“As a matter of truth,” the gun dealer added to conclude our conversation, “the only customers who have purchased the AK47 rifles from this shop are white.” ' T ’■

Is that so? I feebly ventured, long ago realising just how stupid my questions sounded. “The closest we have had to a Fijian customer was a sunburnt pakeha,” the man said. Minutes later another question struck me. How would someone ship their haul of firepower back to Fiji? I telephoned an Air New Zealand friend. "Would Air New Zealand aircraft carry guns as cargo?” I asked.

“Nah, a bottle of Teacher’s whisky is the proven best hijacker deterrent," he said. That’s the good thing about rumours. Not everybody takes them seriously.