Parents call for tighter gun control laws

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Parents call for tighter gun control laws

3News NZ

In November 2008 17-year-old Aaron Grimwood was accidentally shot in the chest by his close friend as they were preparing to go rabbit hunting.

Raven Dallas Walters pleaded guilty to careless use of a firearm causing death but avoided a prison sentence.

After an inquest into Aaron's death, the coroner recommended Parliament consider a review of the law to include a higher charge for dangerous or careless use of a firearm.

Aaron's parents still want to see that happen and his father, Phillip Grimwood and his mother Anne-Marie joins me now.

“There’s too many people being shot,” Mr Grimwood told Firstline this morning, “We’ve tried to push for this and 18 months ago we had a letter from the Minister of Police saying she’d look into it… Basically we’ve heard nothing since then.”

Anne-Marie Grimwood believes stiffening gun control laws will cause those who carry firearms to take greater precautions and act as a deterrent.

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11/01/2013 3:36:05 p.m.

Shane wrote:

Anne-Marie Grimwood needs to learn to differentiate between "gun control" and "gun enforcement".

Not that we need any more of either. Whats needed is greater safety awareness, lets talk about ideas to address that.

I doubt Raven intended to shoot her son, it was a careless accident. Sad but lets be constructive and not let emotions dictate our actions to prevent future situations.

2/09/2012 10:32:41 a.m.

Cyndy wrote:

I have just Lost my son Cameron in a tragic incident that should never have happened. Every day our family suffer knowing that he is not coming home. All gun laws need to be changed, first, to making the procedure on obtaining a gun license harder and longer and secondly the law has to change to include harsher penalties, prison sentences have to be inforced. the man who shot our son has been given 9 months custodial sentence, this isn't long enough in a mothers eyes but if it makes it a deterant to other hunters that a prison sentence maybe imposed then its worth it. I live in Auckland and we are gathering a lot of support to make changes. please support us so no more hunters will be killed.

14/08/2012 5:07:35 p.m.

Raven Dallas Walters Snr wrote:

Having stayed silent for almost 4 years i think it's time people heard what really happened that fateful morning..As there were but a few people present (myself being one) i think it's time to give my son a break..We've kept our silence in the hope that it will settle and we can go on with our lives,but it seems to rear it's ugly head every year or so and although similar shooting accidents have happened as recently as a few months ago,for some reason my sons name seems to be brought to the forefront..Remember my son was only 17yo himself when the accident happened..I wish the media and the Grimwoods would leave this alone..They are fast on accusations on what they interprit as no remorse but i can tell you that although my son put up a brave face in public?,it was not always the case in private..We alone know what happened that day and that includes Phillip Grimwood asking my son to conceal the fact HE gave them the guns that fateful weekend..I was standing there when he asked my son to LIE to save his own ass..The guns were not stolen as he claimed and i have trouble understanding how he sleeps at night knowing the truth..My son lied for him and then they turned on us like rabid dogs.. In retrospect i think there were a few people who should've been punished for the accident and that includes myself..I allowed them to have the guns in my house,and Phillip Grimwood gave them the guns to go hunting..Yes sure my son was made accountable and he never denied accountability but the blame rests on a few different shoulders i feel.. I ask you to pls leave my sons name out of your stories from now on and leave us to pick up the pieces and try and move on with our lives..You're welcome to contact me to verify I AM who i claim to be,the father of Raven Dallas Walters.. 0275437694

14/08/2012 3:04:04 p.m.

Brett wrote:

@ Jeff Goff... that guy did do jail time... two years in fact! As for tightening and making stiffer laws... that could go right across the board for EVERYTHING however you also need judges to ENFORCE those penalties... no point in giving someone 150 hours community work for burglary which carries an 8 year jail sentence or have recidivist drink driver who have been caught 6-7 times and still don't get sent to jail but are just further disqualified!

14/08/2012 12:24:57 p.m.

Jeff Goff wrote:

currently living in the US and is a real shocker here as far as guns. the laws are good in NZ but the penalties lax. Was shocked to see the guy illegally spotlighting killed that teacher and did no prison time. He would have done jail time in the states for manslaughter.

14/08/2012 10:17:11 a.m.

Mike wrote:

There is no doubt this is a tragedy,
however NZ has great gun laws and safe gun laws, but just like drivers, drinkers, fishermen, people make critical mistakes, New Zealand does not huge numbers of gun related deaths because the majority of gun owners are safe and responsible.