Last century I tried to stop someone from getting a gun licence. I rang the local police station, and they told me they would send someone out to talk to me about it. They asked if I could organise a few other people to talk to them as well, and I agreed. I think I lined up at least four, including people I didn't like very much at the time. The guy they sent out to interview me, and the others, was non-sworn, a retired officer I think. He was nice. And sympathetic. Very good at his job, I thought.We had some reasonably serious concerns about the past behaviour and mental stability of the person applying for the gun licence. I don't want to go into detail here, and some of it is not my story to share. But given that at the time I was far from being a big fan of the police force it took a lot for me to take the step of trusting them enough to willingly be interviewed by them about the matter.
The gun licence application was approved.
6 comments:
The cartoon is pretty harsh and, I think, absolutely correct.
I had an experience somewhat similar to yours, Julie - the bloke in question had a collection of guns and clear mental health issues, combined with anti-woman views and fantasies about Rambo-style confrontations. In this case, the Police did confiscate his weaponry - but they were not able to compel him to seek mental health treatment or stop doing the other scary, offensive or annoying things he kept doing to other people. I figure that if you're a danger with guns, you're probably still a danger without them. It's one of those situations that's a disaster waiting to happen, just like Napier.
I'm the first the criticise the Police, but I felt they handled the Napier situation well - they didn't give into the temptation to use excessive force, and the guy who led the operation spoke about it in the media in a very dignified way, including acknowledging the loss felt by Molenaar's family. I was so relieved when Len Snee's body was able to be returned to his family - what a terrible tragedy for them.
Typical of the New Zealand commentariat. They want the government to create laws/police their people properly, but don't have the time for the namby pamby, "overly PC" part of community groups stepping in.
Deleted some shouty abusive trolling. Yawn.
And deleted a second abusive trolly response to the deletion.
if that's how you feel, why don't you prove it by staying away from this blog.
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