legislation aim 1 

A Firearms Register

There is a register of all pistols in New Zealand. The system seems to be working well and almost no pistols end up in the hands of unlicensed people.

The benefits of the registration of all guns include:

• Even an imperfect register can help to solve crimes. The murder of stop-go worker George Taiaroa was solved because a Police Arms Officer recorded the serial number of the murder weapon years before - even though he was not required to do so.

• A register will mean Police know if a gun owner is building up an arsenal of weapons.

• A register would improve the safety of victims of family violence. Police cancel the firearms licences of perpetrators of family violence. Without a register, Police don’t know anything about the firearms belonging to the perpetrator.

• A register would give Police and other emergency workers information about the likely presence of guns. This would contribute to their safety.

• A register makes it easier to trace the source of illegal weapons.

• Ammunition sales should be linked to the register.

No register will have 100% coverage but an imperfect register is much more effective than no register at all.

We have produced a detailed literature review on the value of firearms registration.

LEGISLATION AIM 2

Ban on semi-automatic weapons

We congratulate Parliament on the ban on most semi-automatic weapons. We need to follow this up because we can do better to protect all New Zealanders from mass shootings.

There are very broad exemptions for groups with no functional need for these weapons. The danger is that the weapons could flow back into the community through theft or illegal sales. We believe that semi-automatic weapons should be permanently disabled if they belong to:

• Collectors

• Museums

• Holders of heirlooms or mementos

• Film and TV producers

Despite the ban, anyone with a basic firearms licence can still purchase these semi-automatic weapons:

• Rimfire rifles of .22 calibre that hold 10 rounds or less

• Semi-automatic shotguns that hold 5 rounds or less

• Pump action shotguns that hold 5 rounds or less

0.22 calibre guns are perceived as being relatively harmless “bunny guns” but two thirds of homicide victims are shot with a 0.22 calibre rifle or a shotgun.

We are allowing weapons that in Australia are limited to primary producers, farm workers, collectors and clay target shooters with disabilities. Primary producers and farm workers must show a genuine need and are also limited to one shotgun and one rifle in this category.

LEGISLATION AIM 3

Licensing period

The licensing period for gun owners should be reduced to 3 years from 10 years. A person’s circumstances can change significantly over 10 years. There are also practical issues with a longer licence period such as changes of address or the death of the licence holder. New Zealanders have some of the highest rates of moving house in the developed world.

the team

Gun Control NZ is run entirely by volunteers. We are ordinary New Zealanders, reacting to the Christchurch atrocities, aiming to speak up for other ordinary New Zealanders. We are not aligned to any political party or any other organisation. Gun Control NZ is led by: