The government decided to order another report, this time led by former judge Thomas Thorp. The report was released in 1997 and called for many new restrictions on legal gun ownership, including banning various features, and particularly unpopular amongst firearm owners, that all guns be registered.
The National government in 1999, its last year in office, introduced an Arms Amendment (No. 2) Bill to implement the recommendations, and the bill was supported by the new Labour government. After the strong weight of submissions made against the bill when it was in select committee the government was persuaded that the changes were unneeded and would be difficult to implement. Due to the opposition, the bill was withdrawn. The government then introduced a much reduced Arms Amendment (No. 3) Bill which increased penalties for distribution, manufacture and use of illegal weapons. It has been in select committee since 2005, and the government has not shown any sign of proceeding with it.
In August 2009, the Police decided that any firearm, including single shot bolt action rifles, with a free-standing pistol grip that could allow the firearm to be shot inaccurately from the hip would be defined as an MSSA.[6] However, the High Court rejected this attempt in Lincoln v Police [2010] BCL 194; 33 TCL 11/2.
In 2013, the Police have set up a hunting safety campaign titled "No Meat Is Better Than No Mate".[7]
Kawhia attack in 2013
Following an attack on a Kawhia police officer by a group of men in January 2013,[8] the Police Association called for police officers to be armed.
Police Commissoner Peter Marshall rejected the plea, saying it was "not a time for political point-scoring exercises".[9]
Notable groups
Government groups
The New Zealand Police are responsible for enforcing the Arms Act and various unofficial government policies (such as not increasing the number of E-category registered MSSAs beyond about 8,500).[1] The Police tend to lobby around their own access to guns, as the service does not routinely carry sidearms. However all patrol cars currently carry a M4 carbine in a lockbox in the boot of the vehicle, and often a glocknade in a locked glovebox.
Outdoor safety
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council is a federation of organisations with an interest in outdoor safety, including a number of sporting groups, DOC, the New Zealand Police and Defence Force, OSH and ACC.[10] It is responsible for safety education,[11] and volunteers run the safety courses taken by firearms licence applicants.[12] It also runs more specialised courses on hunting safely, first aid, and other outdoor recreational safety issues.
Pro-Gun groups
The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) was set up in 1996.
The Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand is a part-time lobby group that is usually only active at elections and when there are government calls for gun control laws. It is smaller than COLFO. Opinions vary on how "radical" vs. how "soft" these two organisations are.[citation needed]
The National government in 1999, its last year in office, introduced an Arms Amendment (No. 2) Bill to implement the recommendations, and the bill was supported by the new Labour government. After the strong weight of submissions made against the bill when it was in select committee the government was persuaded that the changes were unneeded and would be difficult to implement. Due to the opposition, the bill was withdrawn. The government then introduced a much reduced Arms Amendment (No. 3) Bill which increased penalties for distribution, manufacture and use of illegal weapons. It has been in select committee since 2005, and the government has not shown any sign of proceeding with it.
In August 2009, the Police decided that any firearm, including single shot bolt action rifles, with a free-standing pistol grip that could allow the firearm to be shot inaccurately from the hip would be defined as an MSSA.[6] However, the High Court rejected this attempt in Lincoln v Police [2010] BCL 194; 33 TCL 11/2.
In 2013, the Police have set up a hunting safety campaign titled "No Meat Is Better Than No Mate".[7]
Kawhia attack in 2013
Following an attack on a Kawhia police officer by a group of men in January 2013,[8] the Police Association called for police officers to be armed.
Police Commissoner Peter Marshall rejected the plea, saying it was "not a time for political point-scoring exercises".[9]
Notable groups
Government groups
The New Zealand Police are responsible for enforcing the Arms Act and various unofficial government policies (such as not increasing the number of E-category registered MSSAs beyond about 8,500).[1] The Police tend to lobby around their own access to guns, as the service does not routinely carry sidearms. However all patrol cars currently carry a M4 carbine in a lockbox in the boot of the vehicle, and often a glocknade in a locked glovebox.
Outdoor safety
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council is a federation of organisations with an interest in outdoor safety, including a number of sporting groups, DOC, the New Zealand Police and Defence Force, OSH and ACC.[10] It is responsible for safety education,[11] and volunteers run the safety courses taken by firearms licence applicants.[12] It also runs more specialised courses on hunting safely, first aid, and other outdoor recreational safety issues.
Pro-Gun groups
The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) was set up in 1996.
The Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand is a part-time lobby group that is usually only active at elections and when there are government calls for gun control laws. It is smaller than COLFO. Opinions vary on how "radical" vs. how "soft" these two organisations are.[citation needed]