Gun buyback compensation tops $45m
WELLINGTON: More than 24,000 banned semiautomatic guns — costing taxpayers $45 million — have been handed in since July this year under the amnesty and buyback scheme.
In the past three months, 15,187 firearms owners have been processed, handing in a total of 24,073 firearms and 88,765 parts and accessories.
The buyback scheme was put in place to allow people to hand in guns that had become illegal under new legislation, prompted by the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Firearms owners have been compensated a total of $45.4 million to date.
The scheme had been allocated $150 million in the Budget, and that was boosted by an additional $40 million from ACC.
Police said the amnesty and buyback performance data would be published on its website fortnightly.
Deputy commissioner Mike Clement said the buyback scheme was unprecedented.
‘‘By reporting this data publicly on a regular basis, firearms owners and the wider community can get a more comprehensive view of how the buyback scheme is going and what sort of firearms are being taken out of circulation,’’ he said.
He said 68% of the firearms handed in were valued at under $10,000 and were categorised in the price list as centrefire semiautomatics. Other categories include.—
Rifles, 11+ rounds (valued at under $2000): 17%.
Shotgun pumpaction, nondetachable magazine, 6+ cartridges (valued at under
AA$5000): 8%.
Shotgun semiautomatic, nondetachable magazine, 6+ cartridges (valued at under $5000): 4%.
Shotguns with detachable magazines (valued at under $2000): 3%.
Mr Clement said the attitude of firearms owners who have handed in their firearms has been outstanding but warned others of the deadline. ‘‘Police have collected thousands of semiautomatic fire
AAarms and assault rifles during the course of the buyback so far,’’ he said.
‘‘We are also in contact with ECat endorsement holders who own prohibited MSSAs and have yet to comply with the law. The last thing we want to see is lawabiding citizens at risk of facing charges and losing their future firearms licence by failing to comply.’’
The amnesty and buyback period ends on December 20 2019. — RNZ