THE DEADLY PEA RIFLE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 569, 21 May 1913, Page 5

THE DEADLY PEA RIFLE.

MENACE TO THE PUBLIC. MR JUSTICE COOPERS' COMMENTS. The menace to public safety arising out of lads being in possession of pea rifles was the subject of some very straight comment by his Honour Mr Justice Cooper at the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday. Hiß Honour's remarks arose out of the recent shooting tragedy near Whangarei, which resulted in the lad Edward Augustine Sheehan pleading "Guilty" to a charge of manslaugter. After committing the lad to St. Mary's Home, his Honour said that he wished to pass on to a public question—the use of pea rifles by young lads. "This practice" said hi 3 Honour "has Been productive of a great deal of harm to the community. There have been many fatal accidents cau3«d by the use of these weapons by young children who have no business to have firearms in their possession. I really don't think the public can know the law in this respect. Under the Police Offences Act of 1908, section 26, it is not lawful to sell or supply firearms, or any kind of ammunition to any parson under the age of: sixteen years. Neither is it lawful for any person under the age of sixteen years to have firearms or ammunition in his possession. The evidence in the present case shows that I on the Sunday morning when the tragedy occurred these young lads discharged no less than 200 cartridges, and each cartridge, had it struck anyone, might have caused serious injuries. 1 cannot understand, with the law as it now stands, how it is that for some years past lads have ob tained possession of these pea rifles and the necessary ammunition. Hia Honour then went on to urge an amendment of sub-section 2 of the Police Offences Act in the direction of investing policemen with power to confiscate pea rifles or other firearms and ammunition in possession of boys who are manifestly under the age of sixteen years. As the law stood at present, said his Honour, confiscation Was only legal after a conviction had been entered against a lad for having a firearm in his possession. "1 believe," continued his Honour, "that many of these accidents would have been avoided if when a constable saw a boy of under sixteen years with a pearifle he had the authority of the law to take that pearifle. There have been numerous fatal accidents for the last three or four years because of the lads possessing dangerous firearms. I hope my remarks will reach the ears of the authorities, and that the law will be amended in the direction I have indicated. Ido not wish it to be understood that I object to lads being taught the use of the rifle for the purposes of national defence —in fact, I think that every lad over a certain age should be instrjcted in its use so that he may help to protect his country should the occasion arise; neither do I object to efficiency being acquired in the use of the rifle for sporting pumoses. What I do object to is the positive menace to the community caused by pearifles in the hands of young Boys.