masonalannz wrote:New Zealand has reasonable gun regulation and basically NO gun crime.

You're kidding right?

No pistols without a special license.

A standard firearms licence allows the use of "A Category" firearms. To possess firearms of another category they are required to get an endorsement to their licence. There are different endorsements for different classes of firearm but they all require a higher level of storage security, stricter vetting requirements and the applicant must have a 'special reason' for wanting the endorsement.

No 'scary military look-a-like weapons' without a special license.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politi ... ew_Zealand

KVoimakas wrote:

masonalannz wrote:New Zealand has reasonable gun regulation and basically NO gun crime.

You're kidding right?

No pistols without a special license.

A standard firearms licence allows the use of "A Category" firearms. To possess firearms of another category they are required to get an endorsement to their licence. There are different endorsements for different classes of firearm but they all require a higher level of storage security, stricter vetting requirements and the applicant must have a 'special reason' for wanting the endorsement.

No 'scary military look-a-like weapons' without a special license.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politi ... ew_Zealand

Very few people object to any of it because, as I mentioned, there is basically no gun crime. The licensing process is easy and straight forward. You are completely unable to look at this issue from any paradigm but your own, are totally one sided and frankly it gets old and boring.

masonalannz wrote:Very few people object to any of it because, as I mentioned, there is basically no gun crime. The licensing process is easy and straight forward. You are completely unable to look at this issue from any paradigm but your own, are totally one sided and frankly it gets old and boring.

Maybe it's different in NZ, but from what I've seen in other countries, more gun control =/= less crime and more guns =/= more crime.

Very few people object to any of it because, as I mentioned, there is basically no gun crime.

Has there ever been much of a crime rate there?

goosekiller wrote:

whitey wrote:Going on 6 years with my F&P dishwashers without a problem.

When i pay over $800 for a washer with all of the bells and whistles, i expect the muther to last more than four years. Fuck Fisher & Paykel. No kiss first.

Sorry to hear that. We put pricey F&P washer and dryer in the NorCal house and are definitely underwhelmed. They are very energy and water efficient and the top loading dryer is cool but the washer just doesn't seem to get clothes very clean. We put small, cheap Whirlpool or Fridgidare ones in the VA house and they're doing great after two years, although the dryer is still basically brand new, since we line dry almost everything in every season.

Don't hate NZ just for Fisher and Paykel. Think, also, of the single payer health care. The seven species of deer with no seasons or bag limits. The stunning fishing, particularly rainbow trout. The high quality public education. The healthy, trim women. Monteiths beer. Astoundingly bad sushi.

Just go ahead and hate because the WHO (or one of those entities) just declared Kiwis the happiest people on Earth.

eelj wrote:

Very few people object to any of it because, as I mentioned, there is basically no gun crime.

Has there ever been much of a crime rate there?

No, I don't think there has ever been a really high crime rate. Most crime in NZ is petty, like having your bike stolen or graffiti. It's really nice to know that you can get into a disagreement or even fist fight with some ass in the pub and be pretty positive you won't end up with a handgun in your face. Also, crime seems to be treated a bit differently, cops tend to be a bit more judge and jury than they are here, which is good but I understand the danger. Take the aforementioned fist fight, in a lot of cases the cops would break it up and so long as no one was stabbed, unnecessarily beaten and the bar not trashed they would be unlikely to haul both parties off to jail and make them criminals. Make a habit of it, or give them a bunch of guff though...

NZ's as a whole, while often outspoken, opinionated and argumentative, tend to be very reasonable. I think that is likely attributable to the high level and availability of education, nutrition and health services, particularly in early childhood.

masonalannz wrote:particularly rainbow trout

You're welcome.


One day I would love to visit NZ, it does seem like a lovely place. Much more hospitable than Aus, on the whole.

I understand that NZ also legalized prostitution, something we should have done long ago. Few gun restrictions yet NZ police are not armed, though probably like the UK there are armed response teams available. The crime rate must be very low.

highdesert wrote:I understand that NZ also legalized prostitution, something we should have done long ago. Few gun restrictions yet NZ police are not armed, though probably like the UK there are armed response teams available. The crime rate must be very low.

That settles it then. I take back everything previously posted and move that we hold the Third Annual LGC Jamboree in NZ.

eelj wrote:

Very few people object to any of it because, as I mentioned, there is basically no gun crime.

Has there ever been much of a crime rate there?

With the exception of murder and gun crimes, they are higher in every category than the US. (Assault, theft, burglary, rape, etc).