Gun sellers warn women against using air pistols

Gunsmiths are warning women living alone not to buy air pistols for protection against intruders.

Christchurch gun seller David Tipple says older women in the city are turning to air pistols because they cannot get licences to buy more powerful weapons.

Gun shops in other parts of the country say they have also had similar inquiries.

And some shop owners refuse to sell air pistols to anyone who says he or she wants one for self-defence.

An Auckland shop owner, Ron Young, said an air pistol is "not fatal."

"I tell them they don't want it."

Mr Tipple said many of his "little old lady" customers "just want something that looks like a gun."

A gun "gives them peace of mind because they don't have peace of mind that the police will protect them."

Air pistols fired a .177-calibre slug and were powerful enough to penetrate the cover of a telephone book, he said.

"They cause bodily harm but not death or grievous injury so they are not going to be had up for murder," Mr Tipple said.

Air pistols were more a deterrent than a means of disabling an angry offender.

Most gunshop owners the New Zealand Herald interviewed said air guns were a poor choice for self-defence. Their advice to potential buyers included:

* Buy a burglar alarm with a panic button.

* Air gun pellets "hurt like hell." You don't want to make a burglar mad.

* Use a cellphone to call the police.

* Any firearm needs to be kept under lock and key. Think about what could happen if a child got hold of it or if "someone went off their trolley."

* Consider what would happen if it was used against you.

The president of the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners, Michael Reeves, said he was not in favour of people buying guns for self-protection but he supported the sale of disabling substances such as pepper spray.

"These elderly people have got to have a chance. The police say pepper spray could be used on the victim but most of them would prefer it was pepper spray than an iron bar or a machete."

Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Fitzharris said police had always opposed the sale of pepper spray and similar products.

Special training was required to use such products safely and there was a danger that people might experience allergic reactions when sprayed, he said.

Recent home invasions had been highly publicised but such incidents were statistically unlikely.

"The elderly are the most worried about this problem but the chances of them being attacked are rare. They are in more danger when they cross the road."

- STAFF REPORTER, NZPA