Armed police expected at first Chch gun collection point
Armed police will provide tight security for day one of the Government’s controversial gun buyback scheme in Christchurch today.
Gun owners going to cash-in their now-illegal firearms — or hand them over anonymously and without question during the amnesty option — can expect armed officers at the collection event at Riccarton Park Racecourse.
More than 900 Cantabrians have made online notifications to police already, amounting to 1415 firearms, police revealed at a preview media event yesterday afternoon.
It’s not clear how many guns will be handed in between 10am today and 3pm tomorrow.
The Government’s gun buyback and amnesty scheme follows the gun law reform in April that banned most military-style semiautomatics (MSSA) and associated components in response to the Christchurch terror attack that killed 51 people.
Police released an extensive list of guns, each with a price for poor condition (25 per cent of the base price), average condition (70 per cent of the base price), and new or near-new condition (95 per cent of the base price).
The list covers more than 300 guns and also includes gun parts — including magazines, silencers, open sights and custom triggers — with a different price setting: 70 per cent of the base price for new or used, and 25 per cent of the base price for poor condition.
Gun lobby group, the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (Colfo) has joined forces with Gun City owner David Tipple to fight the Government’s gun law reforms and its buy-back prices.
It has launched the “Fair & Reasonable Campaign” which, according to its website, is aiming for hundreds and thousands of dollars to take court action “seeking full compensation for the loss of your hobby, sport and lifestyle”.
Police say local collection events are the preferred option of safely collecting firearms and parts during the buy-back period and, with more than 250 already planned in cities, towns, and rural communities across the country.
“We want to make it as easy as we can for people to do the right thing and hand-in their firearms,” Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement said earlier.
Yesterday Canterbury District Commander Mike Johnson said it was appropriate that the first collection event is held in Christchurch where the March 15 terror attacks happened.
He admitted the buyback scheme has been a “polarising topic” but the legislation and its ramifications are very clear.
“There’s been a law change and this is about law-abiding New Zealanders who want to engage in the process, and those 903 people have engaged in the process already,” Johnson said.
He encouraged people to complete the online notification form earlier to save time, otherwise it can be done at computers on-site.
There will be “a number of security measures” today, police said, including armed staff.
Johnson said police don’t anticipate trouble but they want to make the event safe for all. He asked that guns be brought to the event “in a safe condition”, preferably in a bag or suitable case.
People using the buy-back scheme will need to bring a photo ID, bank account number, firearms licence if applicable, online notification number, and firearms/parts cleared of ammunition.