Airgun murder sparks police call for licences

The Police Association is calling on the Government to license powerful airguns after the murder conviction last week of a man who killed an undercover policeman.

John Skinner, 38, was found guilty on Friday after shooting Sergeant Don Wilkinson, 46, with a powerful air rifle in 2008.

He was also found guilty of attempting to murder a colleague of Mr Wilkinson, after shooting that officer three times with the rifle.

Co-accused Iain Clegg, 36, was found guilty of manslaughter.

Crown prosecutor Simon Moore, SC, said after the verdicts he believed it was the first time in New Zealand, and possibly the world, someone had been found guilty of murder using an airgun.

"The modern technology of airguns is such that these are seriously lethal weapons in the wrong hands," he said.

Association president Greg O'Connor said yesterday the lack of licensing requirements made air rifles attractive to criminals.

"We've only had to see by the murder of Don Wilkinson that criminals have taken advantage of that," he told Radio NZ.

Trevor Dyke of the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners said there was probably a case for high-powered airguns to be licensed.

A spokesman for Police Minister Judith Collins said proposal on airguns would be welcome as submissions on the Arms Amendment Bill, which has been before Parliament's law and order select committee since 2005.

Mr O'Connor said legislation for high-powered airguns should be considered independently.

- NZPA