Deerstalkers' Association Endorses Prison Sentence for Andrew Mears
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