FIREARMS LICENCE COUNTS

The following information is kindly provided by Inspector Joe Green, Manager, Licensing and Vetting and Bill Davidson (1992 & 1994) National Police Headquarters Wellington

Licensing Requirements for Persons Wishing to Practise as a Gunsmith

The NZ Police have raised this issue with the NZQA, NZSG and NZEFMITO and the need to make licensing requirements clear under special notes in the gunsmithing unit standards, qualifications and associated advertising.The Oxford Dictionary 1996 defines a gunsmith as :

"a person who makes, sells or repairs guns"

New Zealand Law (Arms Act 1983/Arms Regulations 1992) legislates that:

• An arms dealers licence ‘D’ does not qualify a person as a gunsmith, or to have any technical knowledge of firearms.
• An arms dealers licence ‘D’ is a generic licence which licences and requires an arms dealer/retailer, importer, wholesaler, manufacturer or gunsmith to be of excellent character and to abide by the provisions of the Arms Act 1983 and the Arms Regulations 1992 (for possession, record keeping and security purposes).
• Holding an arms dealers licence ‘D’ entitles a person by way of business to possess, manufacture, repair, test fire and sell all types of firearms including pistols, restricted weapons and military style semi-automatic firearms.
• A licensed arms dealer may at their place of business employ the services of gunsmiths or apprentice/trainee gunsmiths who individually hold an ‘A’ firearms licence.
  A person who holds an ‘A’ firearms licence may manufacture and repair rifles, shotguns and black powder long arms for their own use.
• Persons who wish to manufacture pistols or military style semi-automatics for their own use must be the holder of an ‘A’ firearms licence, have an endorsement issued pursuant to section 29 (2) Arms Act 1983 and a permit to procure each firearm.
• Persons who are appointed honorary gun club armourers/gunsmiths or honorary museum arms curators/gunsmiths who wish to repair/conserve/restore all types of firearms including pistols or military style semi-automatic firearms belonging to the club or museum must be the holder of an ‘A’ firearms licence, have an appropriate endorsement issued pursuant to section 29 (2) Arms Act 1983, a permit to procure for each firearm and not do the work by way of business for sale or reward.

Proposed Wording to be included in the Special Notes of the Gunsmithing Unit Standards and Qualifications

"People working on firearms or parts of firearms whilst working for a person or training provider that holds a dealers licence are required to hold an ‘A’ licence for general firearms. A person carrying out business in their own right will require a dealers licence. People working on firearms or parts of firearms for themselves or as honorary club armourers/gunsmiths or honorary museum arms curators are required to hold an ‘A’ licence for general firearms and the appropriate endorsements and permits to procure. Military/Police armourers, gunsmiths are covered by their own law/warrants/licences."