I agree with Rachael Stewart that MSSAs - military-style semi-automatics - and their seven-shot magazine, modified butt stock cousins that can be bought on an A class licence need to go.
Like her, I hope the ban on semi-automatics does not extend to .22 rimfire rifles and shotguns. They should remain legal on an A class licence. The rimfire semi-autos are very good at rabbit and possum control, but it is a low-powered cartridge, and I don't know of any mass shooting anywhere in the world where rimfire semi-automatics have been used. As for semi-auto shotguns, these are now almost compulsory for duck shooting in New Zealand now that lead shot has been banned. The steel shot that has replaced lead has required much higher pressures to overcome the lighter density of steel, and these higher pressures quickly ruin a double barrel shotgun by stretching its action.
Alan Dickson
Tauranga
Ratepayers' money wasted on project
In my view, the ratepayer's money has been wasted on the conversion of the Phoenix car park conversion to what by the spend it or lose it funding attitude of Tauranga City Council, with no planning, in my view, to provide a result to make Mount Maunganui village a proud and delightful place in the Bay of Plenty. The whole project has produced nothing more than another skateboard area; greater traffic congestion and an eyesore in the middle of the village. Please return some of the ratepayers' considerable rate contributions from the area to worthwhile projects, and I hope that they do not take as long in the planning and execution as the base track around Mauao.
