New Zealand’s Gun Control Hasn’t Reduced Violence

While New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her anti-gun Parliament colleagues may be wearing frowns and scratching their heads, us Yank gun owners could have predicted what they recently learned from Radio New Zealand.

Last year, many of us predicted stricter gun controls hastily imposed following a shooting spree at two mosques in Christchurch would neither reduce nor prevent violent crime involving guns. And guess who was right?

According to RNZ, 2019 produced the highest rates of gun-related crime and deaths since 2009 — a continuation of a rise in violence that started in 2018 before the Christchurch mayhem. Ardern and her cronies tried to capitalize on last year’s rampage to turn the pattern around, but evidently, there was no such luck.

RNZ reported the rates of gun-related crime went up 9% last year and the year before. In 2019, the story detailed 3,540 criminal offenders were armed and Kiwi cops seized 1,263 firearms. Also noted, police officers were attacked 13 times by armed perpetrators.

Once again, gun control extremism has only had an impact on honest citizens who would never have committed a crime in the first place. This time, the victims of this misdirected anti-gun activism were New Zealanders, but they’ve got lots of company here in the U.S., where strict gun laws have yet to provide evidence they prevent violent crimes.

Last year’s mosque madness, which claimed 51 lives, was the handiwork of a 29-year-old Australian nutball, who is now charged under the country’s Terrorism Suppression Act of 2002. He’s the first man to ever be charged under that 18-year-old law, according to news agency down under Stuff.

A final report on the shooting by a Royal Commission created to investigate the March 2019 attacks is due July 31.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/416881/rates-of-gun-crimes-and-killings-using-guns-at-highest-levels-in-a-decade

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/121174777/inquiry-into-christchurch-mosque-shootings-granted-second-extension

‘Unintended Consequences’

While some New Zealanders seemed stunned the new gun laws didn’t bring down the violent crime statistics, back here in the U.S., the Associated Press recently reported something else American gun owners could have said would happen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic panic.

With all of the state-level requirements for wearing masks in public places as part of the national re-opening, criminals quickly figured out they would not look out of place by covering up their faces. Whether they’re stealing packages off front porches or robbing banks and convenience stores, the mask mandates have made it all too easy for perps to walk right up to a bank teller or store clerk and not look like they were about to commit a felony.

Frackville, Pa. Police Chief Richard Bell put this in perspective: “Criminals, they’re smart and this is a perfect opportunity for them to conceal themselves and blend right in.”

Chief Bell told the AP he knew of “seven recent armed robberies…where every suspect wore a mask.” Why should anyone be surprised?

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/coronavirus-masks-a-boon-for-crooks-who-hide-their-faces/

Federal Punch

Federal Premium recently announced a new line of defensive handgun loads in popular calibers designed for use in emergency situations — and the stuff has potential.

According to a Federal news release, these “Punch” loads feature a bullet with a skived jacket and soft lead core for “effective” penetration and expansion. The ammunition is available in the top five calibers used by armed private citizens: .380 ACP, 9mm, .38 Special, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.

Federal Handgun Ammunition Product Manager Chris Laack declared in a press release, “Simply put, we know more about making duty and defensive bullets than anyone.” And it’s true, as roughly 80% of U.S. law enforcement departments use Federal or Speer (also under Vista Outdoor) ammo.

Federal said it evaluated each caliber individually to determine which bullet design and weight would work best for that specific caliber. The result is a round with — no pun intended — a nasty punch.

All five caliber offerings feature nickel-plated cartridge cases, high quality propellants and reliable primers. Federal says Punch “out-performs comparably priced competitor rounds.” Packaged in 20-round boxes, pricing is very affordable at $15.99-21.99, depending on caliber.

http://media.vistaoutdoor.com/presskit/NPS/Federal_Premium/Punch/20-NPS_Ammo_Federal_Punch_FNL.pdf

Pour Me A Magazine

Speaking of Vista Outdoor, Insider Online is a big fan of the .22 WMR cartridge, having seen it perform on live game with decisive results. Recently, CCI announced two new offerings for .22 WMR fans along with one for people who like the diminutive .17 HMR, both available in ‘Easy-To-Pour” cartons that hold 125 rounds.

In the .22 WMR category, one load features a 40-grain Maxi-Mag JHP bullet while the other entry is topped by a 30-grain VNT projectile. For those unfamiliar with it, the VNT is a thin-jacketed pill with a polymer tip that has explosive results on impact and delivers good performance getting to the target.

The Maxi-Mag JHP is simply devastating on small game. Bonk a bunny in the head with one of these and he’s not getting up. Pricing ranges from $36.99-42.99.

http://media.vistaoutdoor.com/p/CC/1311.aspx

Fatal Error in Victim Selection

There’s probably a moral to the following story, but it won’t do any good for the late Leon Jones III, whose poor choice of would-be robbery victims left him dead at the end of a strange series of events.

This misadventure began in Opelousas, La., during what was described as a “narcotics investigation at a motel.” Published reports say a police officer left his unmarked car running in a motel parking lot to assist fellow officers with several arrests in a motel room.

The suspect apparently came out of a different room, hopped in the running car and drove away. Inside the car were an AR-15 rifle, body armor and other gear. An alert was broadcast to Louisiana State Police and surrounding police agencies, but it wasn’t until “several hours later” that the stolen car and the suspect showed up in Port Arthur, Tex., about 150 miles away.

That’s where, say various reports, Jones allegedly used the rifle in an attempt to steal another vehicle, but the intended victim got away. A few miles later, Jones allegedly tried his luck a second time.

A couple from Beaumont was crabbing when the suspect arrived. He tried to rob them, but the husband grabbed his own gun. The two “exchanged gunfire” and the outcome demonstrated that the suspect was less a marksman than he was a robber. When the shooting stopped, Jones was down for the count.

https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/crime_police/article_1609fd18-8fb8-11ea-82dc-c3b39a6995e4.html