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The A Cat to E Cat has been called for what is was, a Police witch hunt, they should be ashamed of themselves
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Police call for change to airgun legislation

posted 17 Jul 2009 16:08 by Central Shooters Inc Webmaster   [ updated 17 Jul 2009 18:00 ]
The new Zealand Police have briefed Police Minister Judith Collins that they want a law change to require a licence for air guns with a muzzle energy in excess of 34 Joules 1

The Thorp report of 1997 (from retired judge Sir Thomas Thorp) recommended that high-powered air rifles be classified as firearms as do many other countries 2. Because the Thorp report contained many other stupid recommendation, this obvious recommendation has been ignored by two successive governments

COLFO is quoted as supporting the proposed licence change, and that seems a good move

What we have to watch out for now is what is piggybacked into the same law change, it will probably be what is required to make thumbhole stocks defined as E-Cat :-)



[1] A typical air gun pellet leaving the barrel at 213 metres per second (700 ft/s) and weighing 0.20 grams (3.1 gr) has a muzzle energy of 4.43 Joules (3.27 ft.lbf), or at 100 metres per second (330 ft/s) it will be 1.0 Joules

In comparison:

The New Zealand Police have level 3 stab proof vests which are rated at 45 J

And a common hunting rifle using 7.62 x 39 ammunition with a 123 gr (8.0 g) bullet with a muzzle velocity of 710 meters per second (2,300 ft/s) has 2,010 Joules (1,480 ft·lbf)


[2] A quick summary of other countries that have air gun restrictions or muzzle joules limits

 County LegalJoule LimitConditions and Licence Requirements 
 New Zealand Yes No  16 to 18 Required, 18 > Not required
 Australia No 0 Technically possible, but not accepted
 Austria Yes   0.08 
 Belgium Yes  7.5 
 Canada Yes 5.7 Licence for > 5.7 J required 
 China No 0 Except Hong Kong and Macau with 2.0 J
 Denamrk Yes No 16 to 18 Required, 18 > Not required
 Finland Yes No 
 France Yes 2.0 Licence for > 2.0 J required
 Germany Yes 7.5 Licence for > 7.5 J required 
 Greece Yes No > 18
 Ireland Yes 1.0  Licence for > 1.0 J required 
 Israel No 0 
 Italy Yes  1.0  Licence for > 1.0 J required
 Japan Yes  0.98 
 Luxembourg Yes  No Licence required 
 Lithuania Yes No > 18 
 Netherlands Yes  No Licence required
 Norway Yes No Licence required
 Philippines Yes No Gun must be registered
 Poland Yes  17  Licence for > 17 J required 
 Portugal Yes  1.3  > 18, gun painted fluorescent red or yellow colour 
 Romania Yes No 18 >, gun must be registered
 Slovakia Yes 17  > 18
 Slovenia Yes  1.0 > 18
 Singapore No  0  
 Spain No  0  
 Sweden Yes  10  > 18 
 Switzerland Yes  No  Cannot use laser sights?
 UK Yes  No Heavy restrictions on use and purchase 
 USA Yes  No State by state laws vary