They are reclassifying tens of thousands of guns in New Zealand as military grade semi-automatics:
Thousands of gun owners will be affected by a decision to reclassify many weapons as military-style semi-automatics.
The guns involved were previously defined as “sporting configuration” and owners did not need to notify police of the model of each gun they owned, as is required of owners of military-style semi-automatics.
The reclassification focuses on guns that have free-standing pistol grips, enabling the firearm to be used as an assault weapon.
How does a pistol grip enable it to be used as an “assault weapon?” I think the authorities in New Zealand must have gotten a hold of some of Josh Sugarmann’s nonsensical writing about them. The key thing that makes a rifle an assault rifle is the full auto selector position, which these firearms would be missing.
The Kiwis have generally been more sensible when it comes to guns than other Commonwealth states. It’s a shame to see that’s changing.
Lots of FNFALs in New Zealand. O’course the only reason the PTB over there know this is because they have a registration requirement. But that will never lead to confiscation, uh huh, yeah, riiiiight.
Sounds like California and the SKS’s in 2000. Overnight a firearm goes from “sporting” to “evil baby killing machine.”
http://defensivehandgun.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-zealand-on-slippery-slope.html
Now there is an unfortunate turn of events… New Zealand was one of the few rational countries when it comes to firearms any more, and I guess that all is just going right out the window now.
As always, registration will just be the start.
The reclassification focuses on guns that have free-standing pistol grips, enabling the firearm to be used as an assault weapon.
That’s an impressive set of grips if it can turn a firearm into a semi-auto.