Chch locals up in arms over opening of gun superstore

Email
Print

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:00a.m.

Mr Tipple has run his gun business in the city for more than 30 years

Mr Tipple has run his gun business in the city for more than 30 years

A gun superstore is about to open in Christchurch’s suburban Papanui – 2,500sqm of fire arms, and its neighbours include a toy shop, a primary school, an adventure playground, and a play centre.

As opening day approaches, more and more locals feel a bit uneasy about that mix.

The gun shop owner David Tipple suggests people are getting a bit hysterical.

“We won’t be selling guns to children,” he says.

Mr Tipple has run his gun business in the city for more than 30 years. He says the reaction to move to the new premises is just a cheap shot.

“I just think it is bred entirely from ignorance,” he says.

While Mr Tipple insists it will be the most secure gun shop in New Zealand, some are arguing it is about the kind of country they want to live in.
Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

26 Feb 2010 10:46p.m.

Greg wrote:

In this day and age of increasing crime and violence the last thing we need is damn gunshops.

It`s not so much "who they sell them to" but in whoes hands they end up in!.

If my family had our way we would ban all firearms worldwide!.

07 Sep 2009 02:05p.m.

Shane wrote:

Anyone interested in taking a stand against this rubbish reporting and also protecting their firearms from government\police legislation would be right to visit www.nsanz.org.nz

Public perception needs to change, and the truth needs to come out about firearms ownership and its benefits.

04 Sep 2009 06:39p.m.

Scott wrote:

Campbell, you've hit a new low with this story. As Mr Tipple so rightly pointed out, children get more exposure to firearms use at home through the medium of video games. This is exposure that is known as "operant conditioning" in the military. Though this exposure is also without any form of discipline which is instilled in military troops or even normal firearms license holders.
I hold a firearms license and I also own rifles. I find it offensive that people who know nothing of this subject immediately label us as bad people. I don't sell drugs. I don't steal things. I obey the law. I notice that you didn't actually speak to any firearms owners.
I also notice that the "firearms charges" were not elaborated on. What were they exactly?
And as for "Roger" if you are so worried about killing God's creatures with firearms, and you believe in that sort of thing, who do you think gave us guns! If God created everything then God created guns. Dear God, thank you for guns. Amen.

04 Sep 2009 12:28a.m.

Hamish wrote:

I find it disconcerting that so many have this uninformed and prejudiced mindset that firearms=bad, and that this sentiment is echoed so frequently in the mass media. The vast majority of nigh on a quarter million licenced firearm holders go about their chosen sports and recreations without incident. Yet somehow the presence of this shop and its potiential customers is somehow threatens the well being of children. Funnily enough off the top of my head I can think of four gunshops in Auckland alone that have operated for decades with a couple hundred meters of schools with out incident.

The arguements presented by the two women interviewed are telling in displaying their level of ignorance and prejudice in the matter.
The first woman goes on about how they teach non-violent conflict resolution and how see doesn't think guns and by extention shooters fit in with this. She is making the assumption that shooters would think otherwise. The vast majority of shooters think of firearms as a tool/sporting equipment, not as a weapon. Remember a stick is just a stick until I actively decided to pick it up and weild it as a weapon, it is intent that makes the difference. I find her attitude insulting.

The other woman made the same mistake that so many do, they look to the United States. New Zealand has to totally different set of legislation, history, and mentality with regards firearms. Why on earth would you look at the United States when our shooting culture, firearms ownership rates, legislation has far more in common with the Scandanavian nations. Of course though her "knowledge" is based on the last 20/20 or 60 minutes episode she was and they don't make shows about the non-event of firearms in these other nations. She strikes me as the type that if you asked do we need tighter gun controls she'd answer yes, yet if you asked her if she knew what the current regulations were or if they were being enforced she'd draw a blank.

This story is a non-issue.

03 Sep 2009 01:14p.m.

Anti PC wrote:

Yes its a pity that hundreds of dedicated sports men and women who train and compete in shooting sports are shunned by the NZ Media, whilst the anti PC brigade get large amounts of air time to voice their one sided baseless opinions on firearms. Its discrimination at its worst. Someone needs to take this Broadcasting Standards Authority perhaps ?

02 Sep 2009 07:30p.m.

Dorcy wrote:

The closing sentence in this article makes me laugh and hints at the complete & utter lack of understanding of firearms & the role they've historically occupied & continue to occupy in New Zealand society.

Since the very earliest days of European settlement New Zealanders have enjoyed the use of firearms for hunting & sporting purposes. The oldest sporting competition in NZ sports history belongs to the shooting. The Ballinger Belt, 1861. It is still competed for to this day.

New Zealands top medal tallies at Olympic & Commenwealth level have come consistently from the shooting sports yet it receives a fraction of the funding of other fringe sports.

The fear mongering from a small, politically correct but vocal segment of our society is as illogical as it is predictable. Those who only know (& believe) what they see in Hollywood movies will never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

We have a long & proud history of responsible firearms ownership & use in our great country. Long may that last.

02 Sep 2009 03:24p.m.

Phil wrote:

Well this has certainly gotten a reaction.

02 Sep 2009 11:21a.m.

Grant wrote:

Roger, good grief... Irrelevant hysteria to put it mildly amplified by the ridiculous and embarrassingly fallacious God comments.

Amazing how painfully irrational people can become when it comes to firearms. There is not a single good reason why police vetted, responsible law abiding NZ citizens shouldn't be allowed to purchase firearms in that area.

02 Sep 2009 10:56a.m.

Heylin wrote:

I for one am sick of being a punching bag for the uneducated and narrow minded anti gun crowd. 250,000 law abiding firearms owners are being persecuted daily in the media and news by these minority anti-gun groups and the misguided public who just dont get it and want to shovel us into the same group as criminals.

How do we educate these people to realise that its the actions a crimnal few that cause the problems and not guns themselves ? and certainly not the licensed owners of them.

Shooting sports when compared to other forms of entertainment (movies, gaming, and some other sports) are non violent, fun and bring familys together. For every 1 bad incident with guns there are 100 other good things that happen every day, hopefully our sport survives this nanny state PC nonsense.

02 Sep 2009 10:56a.m.

Maoriboy wrote:

Interesting article that yet again raises both sides of the debate.
I am a keen shooter, and president of a club, and also a father.
My son LOVES going to the gun store with me to have a look, so much so that he points it out everytime we drive past it. And to top it off... he LOVES going to Toyworld as well, infact we visit Toyworld every week.
The children will grow up with the principles that are instilled in them by their parents and their society. My son will learn all about firearms, the laws pertaining to them, how to use them, look after, and most of all how to be SAFE with them. And I hope that he will pass his knowledge onto his kids and also educate those that he will surround himself with as he gets older, same as I try to do.
If people continue to live in fear of something they actually know nothing, or very little about, then society will always be a worse place for it. Maybe some of the anti's should actually attend an open day at a club, or organise a briefing session with the local police arms officer so that they can actually understand a bit more about firearms and "then" make an informed decision.
Good on Gun City for expanding your business. It is is not an easy thing to do in this current financial climate. I hope your new store works out well for you !