Government's first gun buy-back event declared success

Saturday, 13 July 2019

A steady flow of firearm owners kicked off the first gun buy-back session at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch.

Police have paid out $433,000 to 169 gun owners at the Government's first gun buy-back event.

A steady stream of gun owners arrived at the Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch on Saturday, the first of 258 buy-back events to be held around the country.

Canterbury's acting district commander Mike Johnson said gun owners had come out in force for what had been a 'positive experience for them and our staff'.

'We've had 169 people come through today, we've been handed over 224 firearms, 217 parts and $433,000 has been paid out.'

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The event officially started at 10am but some gun-owners were queuing up as early as 8.30am.

A man carries firearms in bags at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch on Saturday morning.

'I just want to thank the Canterbury public for coming out today and supporting this,' Johnson said.

'It's a great first step, but it's only a first step and we've got 6 months to make sure we follow on positively from the day we've had today.'

About 903 Canterbury gun owners have registered 1415 firearms with the police.

Firearms owner Ray Berard believes there is no need for military-style weapons in modern society.

Ray Berard, who moved to New Zealand from Canada 25 years ago, said he 'almost' got what he paid for his AR15 because he had kept it in good condition.

'I was in the army in Canada as a young guy and I was on the shooting team in Canada and when I came to work in New Zealand in the 90s I brought my rifle with me.

'I traded up for another rifle a few years ago and I shoot up at McLeans Island at the target range.'

Recreational hunter Nathan Dougherty says handing over his firearm was the right thing to do.

He believed there was no need for military-style firearms in modern society.

'My wife is working as one of the project directors on the hospital rebuild and we were there on the day of the [March 15 mosque] shooting and watched the 35-odd hearses leave the next day.'

'[You can] do a lot of damage to a lot of people … if you're mentally unwell and you have a weapon that can shoot 100 rounds a minute.

'How do you police that?'

How did the buy-back go for you? Phone: Martin van Beynen 027 220 4453 or Sam Sherwood 027 573 9556

Malcolm Whalley says it was a shame to handover his 'beautiful little rifle', but it was important to get the 'dangerous stuff' out of circulation.

Recreational hunter Nathan Dougherty said he felt good about the buy-back 'because it's the right thing to do'.

'The community has decided that these firearms are not to be owned by members of the public and I had one and it's time to give it up.'

He had enjoyed using his Ruger Mini-14, but it was 'not a thing anyone should feel any more for'.

'If you do feel more than that then I'd say there's something wrong with you. It is just a tool and people should feel happy given them up.

A firearms owner walks into Riccarton Racecourse during the first of the police's gun buy-back events.

'At some stage the community has to say there is a risk where these weapons shouldn't be held and let's take them all out … I'm really OK with that.

'[The March terror attack was] such a terrible thing to happen that we all need to play a part in making society a little bit safer. We give up something but we make each other safer.'

Malcolm Whalley was surrendering his antique .22 Winchester, a pump action rifle made in 1911 and once owned by his grandfather.

'It's a beautiful little rifle. A shame to see it destroyed but if it gets some of the dangerous stuff out of circulation then that's the point,' he said.

He knew the rifle could be modified but that would destroy its intrinsic value, he said.

The rifle was in poor condition so it was valued at $500.

The first gun buy-back event is being held at Christchurch's Riccarton Racecourse.

'It should really be in a museum,' he said.

BUY-BACK OFFERS 'FAIR'

One firearms owner handed over several guns worth about $13,000, including an AR15 and a SKS.

He said he initially felt a 'lot of resentment' and 'mistrust' about the buy-back scheme.

'I was pretty angry but I got in there and they told me what I would get for every item and I thought they were fair.'

A recreational shooter dropping off his AR15 Ranger, which he used for goat shooting, said he had received a fair price.

'I don't want to say anything too controversial but I think it's unfortunate that law-abiding citizens have their firearms taken from them because of one bloody psycho.'

Media were given a tour of the venue where the first collection is being held on Saturday.

Fellow shooters had not tried to dissuade him from coming though, he said.

A competition and recreational shooter, who was second through the door and asked not to be named, said the buy back had gone 'really well'.

He believed he had received a fair price for his mint condition, Russian-made AK47, which he had customised and used to shoot wallabies.

Acting Canterbury District Commander Mike Johnson says 903 Canterbury gun owners have registered 1415 firearms online.

'Some of my friends said it would a debacle and I wouldn't get a fair price but I think the price was good enough. I'm not going to buy another gun. I've still got two in my safe anyway.

'Our prime minister has decided to go this way and it is what it is.'

The gun owner had taken precautions against being identified at the buy-back by removing the number plates and registration dockets from his vehicle.

Because of his AK47's condition, he had received 95 per cent of the value.

He did not feel emotional about his gun being destroyed, he said.

Senior Sergeant Paddy Hannon with guns that will be made illegal with the implementation of the firearms laws.

'The mosque shooting was just awful. Why keep a gun you can't shoot and after the mosque shooting why would you?'

Johnson showed media around the venue on Friday, saying armed police would be present and other security measures were in place.

The firearms amnesty and buy-back collection event will start in Christchurch this weekend.

Police had not received any specific information 'that's raised any heightened levels of security' though, he said.

Gun owners who turned up with a prohibited firearm and changed their mind about handing it in, would not be allowed to leave with the firearm.

'We will make sure that they hand those firearms over and that they feel safe and secure doing so.'

SCHEME A DAY OF 'POLITICAL THEATRE'

ACT leader David Seymour said the start of the Government's gun buy-back was 'another day of political theatre over good policy'.

Only the most law-abiding firearm owners would show up, leaving New Zealand 'less safe than on March 15' with 'hundreds of thousands' of firearms still at large.

'Perhaps the greatest tragedy is the Government's decision to exclude illegally-held firearms from the buyback. It appears to be telling law-abiding firearm owners 'line up', while telling criminals 'keep doing what you're doing,' he said in a statement.

Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (Colfo) spokeswoman Nicole McKee earlier said some owners were concerned about safety and most were unhappy with the compensation package that was worked out on wholesale rates rather than retail prices.

She said Colfo estimated 250,000 to 300,000 banned firearms were in circulation, but only 8000 firearms had been notified on the police's online system.

HOW TO HAND IN YOUR GUN AT A COLLECTION EVENT:

- Complete the online form on the police website

- Clear the firearm of all ammunition and put it and any parts in a safe carry bag

- Bring the following items to the event: your firearms licence (if applicable), photo identification (driver licence or passport), bank account number, online notification reference number, all prohibited parts (cleared of all ammunition), and any other non-prohibited firearms or parts you wish to hand in to police.