Revised Arms Code hits target with readers

The Arms Code has been reviewed and rewritten by a published children’s author into an easy to read, informative booklet.

In 1975, the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council and NZ Police wrote the first New Zealand Arms Code.

Back then, the Mountain Safety Council took on responsibility for training firearms licence applicants, using the Arms Code as their training resource.

Volunteer instructors with Mountain Safety remain significant and strategic partners in promoting both the safe use and control of firearms.

Manager Licensing and Vetting Service Centre, Inspector Joe Green, Police National Headquarters, says the Arms Code is central to firearms safety training.

While the Code has been amended several times since 1975, the content has been reviewed completely and rewritten.

Many of the line drawings have been replaced by photographs.

Joe says since the introduction of the Arms Code, and subsequent training, non-intentional deaths and injuries have dropped from an average of one a week to an average of one a month.

“The message to secure firearms has also seen suicide by firearm drop significantly,” says Joe.

Jess Porch shows how to carry a firearm safely - a photo from the revised Arms Code.

The revised Code is provided free to every licence applicant and is available on the Police website at www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms