Archery Law

[TrevorK]

NZ only, does anyone know the law on selling archery equipement (mainly Bows and Arrows)to persons under 18 years of age, tried google and such and I can't find anything that says you can't. Any light would be welcomed.

Thanks

[themadarcher]

I really don't think there is one!

[gizzy]

No I think anyone can by a bow regardless of age. I don't think there is any law against it

[Archangel]

Never been any law against it as far as I know.

[Ray Watchman]

I notice from time to time Trade Me advertisers of bows add a rider saying they won't sell to persons under 18. I think this is discretionary, not a legal requirement.

[Ray Watchman]

Back again ...after my previous reply I checked on Trade Me and what are obviously commercial dealer ads for crossbows state that the law requires (NZ) buyers to be over 18 and to show proof of ID, or to be aged 16-17 and hold NZ firearms licence. No firearms licence is required if buyer is over 18. I notice that no such rider is carried on ads for private crossbow sales. Whether this law (and that is assuming the Trade Me commercial dealer advertisers are correct) applies to recurve and compound bows I do not know, but it's probably well worth checking with a dealer to find out.

[Ray Watchman]

NZ only, does anyone know the law on selling archery equipement (mainly Bows and Arrows)to persons under 18 years of age, tried google and such and I can't find anything that says you can't. Any light would be welcomed.

Thanks
Trevor ... having set in motion some form of response, I followed up today with Jim at NZAP. He tells me that so far as he has been able to determine after several inquiries to the police, there are no specific regulations re archery equipment. Crossbows are lumped in with air guns in that you (under 18s) can't purchase one without parents' permission, but standard archery gear doesn't seem to fall under that catagory. Interestingly, Jim says that if a bow and arrow is used as an offensive weapon, as in a crime of any sort, he believes the seller could be charged with supplying an offensive weapon to a minor. Jim says his own company doesn't knowingly sell any archery gear to anyone under 18 without parents' consent.
Hope this is of help Trevor ... it's an interesting issue, particularly for archers selling their used gear.

[TrevorK]

Trevor ... having set in motion some form of response, I followed up today with Jim at NZAP. He tells me that so far as he has been able to determine after several inquiries to the police, there are no specific regulations re archery equipment. Crossbows are lumped in with air guns in that you (under 18s) can't purchase one without parents' permission, but standard archery gear doesn't seem to fall under that catagory. Interestingly, Jim says that if a bow and arrow is used as an offensive weapon, as in a crime of any sort, he believes the seller could be charged with supplying an offensive weapon to a minor. Jim says his own company doesn't knowingly sell any archery gear to anyone under 18 without parents' consent.
Hope this is of help Trevor ... it's an interesting issue, particularly for archers selling their used gear.

Thanks for that, I susposed that to cover yourself when selling is NO minors

[The One]

A bow is not classed as a firearm in NZ, so I don't see a problem with the law.

[Ray Watchman]

Thanks for that, I susposed that to cover yourself when selling is NO minors
I wouldn't be that emphatic about it! As Jim at NZAP and The One both indicate, it's not actually illegal to sell archery gear to minors, (you can buy kid's bows in most sports shops) but discretion is called for and commercial dealers cover themselves by seeking parental permission where possible. That's understandable and I suppose is seen as the responsible thing to do, even though the law doesn't require them to do so.
Seems from what Jim told me (and he was going on what Police had advised him as a commercial dealer), and from the riders on the commercial dealer Trade Me ads, crossbows, like airguns, cannot legally be sold to under-18s unless they have parental permission.
Endgame: Would I sell my archery gear to a clearly responsible young person taking up archery and joining an archery club? Yes I would.
Would I sell my archery gear to some clearly irresponsible young hoon. Hell no!

[The One]

Yes, discretion is the keyword.