Yesterday, a man was shot by police as he approached Auckland’s Sylvia Park Shopping Centre while carrying a stolen air rifle.
Police have launched two investigations into the incident, which are continuing today.
But what is an air rifle? How do they work, and how much damage can they do?
How air rifles work
Lance Burdett, a former police negotiator who has trained in New Zealand, Australia and with the FBI, said an air rifle is a description of how a projectile is forced out – and does not indicate how much damage it can do.
He said an air rifle uses "compressed air" while a firearm uses "an explosion" to discharge.
"That's the difference. They both though have the same capacity to kill."
Burdett said the power of air rifles can vary significantly.
"A lot of toys are spring loaded and have the imitation of being an air rifle, so that's where some of the misconception comes from."
He said growing up many people have one for shooting things like tin cans which can be quite low powered.
"However, you can get a high powered one... so just the ball size and the .22s, they are extremely high powered, and they will kill. I mean, let's face it, any air rifle can kill a person."
After yesterday's incident at Sylvia Park Shopping Centre, Superintendent Sunny Patel was asked if police knew whether the air rifle was loaded or if the man who was shot had any ammunition.
“That will form part of our investigation.”
They can be life threatening
Air rifles can be life threatening despite some not requiring a firearms licence.
In 2008, Constable Don Wilkinson was shot and killed with a high powered air rifle while trying to plant a tracking device in Auckland's Mangere during a surveillance operation.
Last year, a 47-year-old was arrested at Auckland's Flat Bush after a police officer was shot in the leg with an air rifle while conducting an operation on Chapel Road.
While the officer received minor injuries and was recovering at home, Superintendent Shanan Gray at the time said it "could have had a very different outcome" and was thankful the matter was brought to a "swift resolution".
It is hard to spot the difference
Burdett said it is hard to tell the difference between a low or high powered air rifle, or a firearm at a distance.
"You can't tell them apart at first glance... it depends on the spring loading as well, so you can get difference size springs that go into air rifles that obviously compress the more air and therefore the pellet is released with much more energy. So really you can't tell.
"If a person believes it is a firearm, then in law, it can be viewed as that and will be treated as such."
What are the rules?
According to the Firearms Safety Authority website, the Arms Act 1983, section 45, outlines that it is an offence to carry an airgun in public without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
"Many models of airgun are manufactured to resemble real firearms, which can cause alarm if seen by the general public. When the public reports suspicious or concerning behaviour with an airgun this generally leads to a police response," the website said.
"This is a potentially hazardous situation because of the inability to differentiate between airsoft and actual firearms from a distance.
"Carrying an airsoft gun, paintball gun or BB gun in public can lead to charges of disorderly behaviour or threatening conduct, especially if others feel threatened. Using an airgun inappropriately can also lead to charges under the Arms Act, resulting in fines or imprisonment."
People have to be aged 18 or older to possess and use standard airguns, or 16 or 17 with a firearms licence.
While they can be purchased without a firearms licence, they are subject to a number of legal requirements.
According to the Firearms Safety Authority, those under the age of 18 may use an airgun under the "immediate supervision" of a person aged 18 or older, or a firearms licence holder.
Specifically, dangerous airguns however require a firearms licence to possess, and have legal requirements.
Airguns which are capable of automatic fire and which are not airsoft or paintball guns are restricted weapons, which require a firearms licence and endorsement to possess and have additional legal requirements.
More information on airgun rules can be found on the Firearms Safety Authority website.
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