Comments on: In defense of Greg Carvell

By: Chirol

Chirol — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 07:53:43 +0000

Phil: Interesting. Didn’t know there were so many firearms but as you say, it’s probably due to the vast rural areas. Same reason there are so many guns in Canada too.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:12:22 +0000

The law is fairly reasonable for self-defense. But it seems that the police and courts want to punish those who defend themselves in other ways, such as using other firearms laws in this way. Eg the Paul McIntyre case, where the charge was “reckless use of a firearm.”

Craig and PC know more than I do about the specifics of gun laws. We have a high rate of gun ownership – about 1 million guns for 4 million people – but that is concentrated in rural areas, self-defence is not considered a legitimate reason for owning a firearm, and there are many restrictions on semi-automatic weapons and handguns. Apparently it is far easier to arm yourself here than in Britain or Europe, though.

By: PC

PC — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 23:38:21 +0000

“Do you have a constitutional right to own a gun or not?”

Nope. In fact we have no constitutional right whatsover.

The Crimes Act allows the use of “reasonable force” used in defence, and that line is constantly under both legislative and judicial re-definition.

By: Chirol

Chirol — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:26:05 +0000

This is the first I’m hearing about this (as an American) and am equally outrages. Similar injustice has occured in the US where ordinary citizens exercising their right to own and carry firearms have defended themselves against scum and then been taken to court. The only mistake he made was letting the man live.

On a side note, what are the firearms laws in NZ like? Do you have a constitutional right to own a gun or not?

By: Craig D

Craig D — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 04:37:40 +0000

Of course it should not be necessary and its awful that thier family is being dragged through the courts.

But, if he gets aquitted, that’s a pretty solid precedent for holding firearms for the purpose of self defence.

Which could be interesting. I’m watching carefully.