BB gun incident leads to expulsion

A Marlborough Boys' College student has been expelled after he fired shots at other students with a BB gun.

Another two students who used the gun have been suspended.

The Marlborough Express understands the incident started when a year 13 student at the college fired a BB gun at another student's car before school on Tuesday last week.

Another year 13 student then took the gun and fired two shots at point-blank range at a student in the car. One shot hit the boy in the leg, the other shot hit the dashboard and ricocheted around the car but did not hit anyone.

The gun was loaded with plastic pellets and the boy who was shot suffered a skin welt as a result.

The same student who shot the boy then took the gun into class, and fired it at two other students from under the desk, both of whom he hit.

The school contacted the police following the incident, and the student who fired and hit three students was expelled. Two year 13 students who used the gun but did not hit anyone were suspended.

Marlborough Boys' College board chairman Peter O'Keeffe said he could not comment at this stage, as an appeal had been lodged with the board and the incident was currently under review.

How the gun got to the school is unclear at this stage.

Blenheim police youth aid could not be reached for comment.

The incident follows a series of reports about teenagers with BB guns over the past two weeks. An 11-year-old boy from Paekakariki in the Kapiti Coast was the victim of a drive-by shooting with a BB gun, reported to have been fired by teenagers.

In Auckland, a teenager recently underwent surgery to remove a BB gun slug from his face, after he was attacked and robbed in a Remuera park by two teenagers.

Police have said they have no plans to tighten gun controls despite the incidents, and Police Arms Controller Joe Green said he was satisfied with current gun laws.

Lobby group Family First said it was too easy for under-age teenagers to purchase BB and other look-alike guns.

The group said they have evidence of a 17 year old purchasing a BB gun from a street market without being asked for ID, and despite being under the legal purchase age of 18.

"With an increasing prevalence of teenagers walking around with weapons, gang warfare and physical and violent intimidation and bullying, it is worrying that a teenager can have such easy access to a weapon," said Bob McCoskrie, national director of Family First.

Mr McCoskrie said Family First was calling for an immediate ban on the sale of look-alike guns which could be mistaken for a real gun, and a restriction on the sale of BB and pellet-type guns.

Don Hansen, owner of Marlborough Hunting and Fishing, said BB guns were designed for target practice, and the regulations were the same as other air guns. He said the BB guns in his shop were more expensive than most, with the cheapest retailing at $90.

"That doesn't mean some kid can't go and buy it on an internet trading site without age restrictions," he said.

Mr Hansen said protective gear was not required for operating a BB gun, but at close range it could still inflict some damage. "It's usually a welt to the skin, but if I'm standing a couple of metres away from you and I hit you in the eye, you'll lose that eye."

He said gun safety was a matter of social responsibility and education. "These aren't toys and a kid shouldn't be bringing them to school.

"Any sort of firearm, even a BB gun, is dangerous, and the danger is the person behind the gun."

- The Marlborough Express