2 February 2011

The New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association endorses the 2.5 year prison term handed down to Hamilton man Andrew Mears, in the High Court at Rotorua this afternoon.

NZDA national president Alec McIver believes the judge fairly and clearly arrived at a custodial sentence, though the defence clearly wished to see a sentence of home detention imposed on Mr Mears.

Mr Mears' lack of regard for his DOC permit and for the basic firearms rules he was expected to know when he gained his firearms licence, were noted and considered to be grave and contributing factors by the judge. The judge called Mears conduct 'a stupid act'; NZDA can do nothing but agree.

'We are pleased the judge has taken such breaches of a DOC permit and of the arms code into account,' says Mr McIver.

NZDA also acknowledges and endorses the judge's view that this sentence should not be considered a benchmark for any other cases where hunters are charged with manslaughter. NZDA understands this is the first case of its kind in recent years, and expects the judiciary, the police and the parliament of New Zealand to work harder to secure safer provisions in the Crimes and Arms Acts, so that ambiguities around charges and sentences do not occur again, as they did in this case.

NZDA is concerned to see that Mears' accomplices have not been charged and urges the police to secure and lay informations on them promptly. Letting them off will send a tragic message to those who love the outdoors, and who expect to be able to use it safely without the stupid acts of men like Andrew Mears and his associates.

NZDA is appalled at the defence lawyer's suggestion in his submission this afternoon that Mr Mears' actions amounted to 'buck fever'.

We record here that such a flippant and inaccurate reference to this tragic stupidity, in no way resembles buck fever to decent law-abiding hunters who read permits, shoot only during daylight hours, and use firearms correctly.

Buck fever for the record is defined by the American Heritage Registered Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Ed 2000, as:

'Nervous excitement felt by a novice hunter at the first sight of game.'

We respectfully suggest such was in no way part of the impulse, ignorance and idiocy demonstrated by Mr Mears.

ENDS

© Scoop Media