New Zealand's gun laws are facing a shake-up following the coalition government's agreement to rewrite the Arms Act. But what changes are on the cards?
The country's gun laws have become a source of contention since the Christchurch terror attack in March 2019, which saw 51 people killed as they observed the call to prayer at the Linwood and Al Noor Mosques.
Within a month of those attacks, the Labour-led government moved to change New Zealand's gun laws.
What were those changes?
In April 2019, the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act was passed.
The legislation banned military style semi-automatic weapons and parts that could be used to make them, with some exceptions like use for pest control. It also included a buyback scheme for people who already held those types of firearms.
Further gun law changes came in 2020. These included the establishment of a firearms registry and a reduction in the length of firearms licences for first time licence holders and people whose licences had expired or been revoked.
The legislation also put in place a regulatory framework for shooting clubs and ranges, which needed to apply to police for approval or certification.
When the first of those law changes passed in 2019, there was almost unanimous support for them in Parliament. The only person to vote against that particular bill was ACT's sole member in the House, David Seymour.
"The gun laws need to change, but there are much better ways than this," he said at the time.
Now, with 11 ACT Party MPs sitting in the current government, change is coming to the country's gun laws once again.
What has the coalition government agreed to?
National's coalition agreement with ACT included an agreement on firearms law reform.
This included rewriting the Arms Act 1983, transferring responsibility for that act to the Ministry of Justice, and transferring the Firearms Safety Authority to another department such as the Department of Internal Affairs.
The agreement also included a review of the Firearms Registry and its use in improving public safety and the repeal and replacement of Part 6 of the Arms Act relating to shooting clubs and ranges.
The only part of those reforms to make it into the Government's 100-day plan was the repeal and replacement of Part 6 of the Arms Act.
ACT's firearms policy said the Labour-led government's gun laws had punished licensed firearms owners and burdened shooting clubs and ranges.
"Clubs and ranges play a core role in improving firearms safety, but they are closing under the weight of current legal requirements which need to be reversed," the party said.
Moving beyond that repeal
But the Government has said other firearms reforms will also likely be introduced this year.
Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) Nicole McKee, formerly the spokesperson for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners, told RNZ this week that the coalition's agreement to rewrite the Arms Act "means starting from scratch".
More than 5000 people currently have a licence for centre-fire semi-automatic firearms in New Zealand. McKee said people would still need a legitimate reason to have such a weapon under the act's rewrite.
"This rewrite will also be making changes to the licensed system to enhance public safety," she said.
"Ensuring licensed firearms owners are fit and proper through a graduated system of licencing where people earn trust over time, and a licencing agency carrying out a range of checks, is the sensible way of ensuring public safety.
"A system that vets out those who are not fit and proper, while still treating properly vetted licensed firearm owners with respect and dignity is the safest outcome."
'Join the military'
Unsurprisingly, the Government's plans to rewrite the Arms Act have not been welcomed by the Opposition.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins told Breakfast yesterday morning the country should stick with its existing gun laws.
"If you want to fire a military style semi-automatic weapon, join the military," he said.
Meanwhile, the mother of one of the victims of the Christchurch terror attacks told RNZ she also didn't want to see changes to the current gun laws.
"If they change the regulations, what's going to happen?" asked Maysoon Salama.
"We still have many people out there who are still full of hatred, Islamophobia and discrimination against minorities."
She added that the people who wanted to use high-powered guns for sport can still enjoy their hobby without the need for semi-automatic weapons.
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