Gun reform proposal process draws fire from left-out critics
The latest move to overhaul gun laws has been attacked as “non-democratic“and ”suspicious“, with only select groups approached to give feedback in a consult-ation period lasting just 14 working days.
The Police Association, Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand and Gun Control NZ have expressed alarm at the Government’s process to change part 6 of the Arms Act, which requires regulation and oversight of shooting clubs and ranges.
The law was passed four years ago following the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Mosque Attacks, after it was revealed the terrorist who killed 51 worshippers in the 2019 incident had practised shooting at a rifle club in South Otago. “Focussed consultation” had been sent out to select groups on May 28, with submissions due by June 21, a time frame Labour described as “exceptionally short” for such a key issue.
But Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has denied the process is non-democratic, saying the changes were needed quickly to help club ranges and owners struggling with “burdensome” and “confusing” regulation.
The Police Association said it had not been invited to make a submission on the consultation document, despite being heavily involved in gun law changes following the mosque attacks. “We have been right at the forefront of advocating for change in firearms laws and to not be included raises some real suspicions that this is actually an open consultation,” association president Chris Cahill said.
He said he had contacted McKee’s office to find out why the Police Association had been excluded, but was told to make an Official Information Act request. He had managed to find the consultation document through other means and said it lacked detail as to why the changes were needed.
“Is this going to be how they are going to review the firearms registry? Is this how the minister is going to try and get military-style semi-automatic assault rifles back into New Zealand? Those are my real concerns,” he said. He accepted some changes might be needed to simplify how clubs and ranges were regulated, but the public deserved transparency. “New Zealanders want to make sure that any review of firearms is open and transparent and done to make New Zealand safer,” he said. “If you take shortcuts around this, you are not going to achieve that.”
The Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ (FIANZ ) said the process the Government was taking was “non-democratic” and would only benefit the “gun lobby”. “Where is the public’s opportunity for scrutiny on how taxpayers’ funds will be used?” its president, Abdur Razzaq, asked. He said it was “untenable” to not invite the Police Association to submit when its members included frontline officers, who risked their lives every day.
“We acknowledge that the ACT Party have a mandate and it is part of the coalition agreement. However, we would expect a transparent process of giving New Zealanders the opportunity to have their say,” he said.
FIANZ stated in its submission it was not anti-gun, but rather pro-safety.