BLUE LANTERN CASE NO. 05-050012588

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000711

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR AND EAP/ANP - RICCI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC NZ
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN CASE NO. 05-050012588

REF: STATE 126603

The following is post's response to questions concerning the
pre-license check on application 05-050012588, for sale to
Serious
Shooters Limited in Auckland, NZ. Due to limited Embassy
staff it
was not possible to make a site visit. Information was
instead
obtained through an internet search and PE Counselor's
telephone call to
Richard Munt, reftel POC at Serious Shooters.

1) When was the company established and who are its
principals?

-- According to a search of registered NZ companies
(available on line at www.companies.govt.nz),the company was
incorporated on 10 August 1994.
It's Directors are Grant Selwyn BEESLEY and Murray Ellison
GARRETT.

2) Who are the firm's typical customers and where are they
located?

-- According to Munt, the company's customers are primarily
hunters
and recreational shooters. All who purchase firearms and
finished
ammunition must have licenses, which are inspected and
recorded by
the company before sale. There is no need for the company to
view
licenses of those purchasing parts.

3) Does the company have an established, legitimate customer
base to which it plans to sell these commodities?

-- Yes, see question 2, above

4) Does the company have adequate on-site security?

-- According to Munt, all firearms are kept in a bank safe
with
2 1/2 ton door and 16-inch thick walls, well in excess of
NZ government requirements. All windows are heavily grilled
and
in most cases walled in.

5) Does the company keep proper, detailed records of its
sales and customers?

-- Yes.

6) Does the company understand the restrictions on United
States Munitions List (USML) articles, particularly regarding
re-exporting (no re-export without USG authorization)?

-- Yes. They do not re-export any USML products. If they
did,
the shipments would need to be approved by the Government of
New
Zealand as well as the U.S. State Department.

7) Does the company have the proper firearms license and
import permit for the items listed on the license
application?

-- Yes.

8) In post's assessment, is the company a reliable recipient
of USML items?

-- Yes.
McCormick