Continuing firearm violence means New Zealanders are no safer despite the promises made of legislation passed against licensed firearm owners, according to The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO.)
The rushed laws of 2019 have failed to deliver
By Tony Orman
COLFO spokesperson Hugh Devereux-Mack says the recent gun violence is undeniable evidence that New Zealanders have not been made safer by the infamous firearm ban and buyback of 2019-21, or changes to licensing laws.
“New Zealanders were specifically promised that the firearm ban and law changes would make them safer – and yet we see weekly evidence, particularly in Auckland, that the laws have failed to deliver.
“The laws changed nothing because they were directed at fit and proper firearm licence holders, not criminals. Punitive action against people who act responsibly inside the system does nothing to stop criminals willing to act outside it.”
The Government Goofed
“Let’s be clear – this horrible violence is largely being conducted by existing criminals – people already operating outside the legal system. The only thing that will deal with firearm violence is greater intensity of Police work, like Operation Tauwhiro, against the criminal element in society.
“The Government has let us down. The firearm community wanted stricter controls administered via an independent firearms authority which was committed to by government.
While they claim to have a ‘strong track record on firearms crime’[1], the Government has failed to deliver the independent authority and instead set it up as a unit inside the Police which is still subject to the resource constraints noted by the Police Commissioner[2],” Devereux-Mack says.
Firearms Register?
The response to a recent Auckland shooting by Deborah Russell, Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, which reviewed the firearm ban and other firearm licensing changes, had been to refer to restrictions on firearm owners, such as an impending firearm register.
Devereux-Mack pointed out that most of the firearms seized would never have been on a register, and there was no difference in outcome between a shooting with a registered or an unregistered firearm.
If someone was using a firearm – such as in a shooting – Russell said that “they’re going to have to have their firearms licence with them and be able to demonstrate the firearm is their firearm and not someone else’s.[3]”
Comments from Government about a firearms register and other changes to legislation affecting legal firearm owners, should cease until government can prove they will actually make New Zealand safer.
Devereux-Mack added that COLFO opposed general arming of Police because it would make public safety worse.
NOTE: COLFO’s comments on the general arming of Police can be read here.
For further information contact: Hugh Devereux-Mack. 027 362 0853
[1] http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/5/395443
New Zealand, Australia, and countries where governments have been able to use “false flag” shootings to justify stripping citizens of firearms, coincidentally appear to have the most draconian governments of all. It’s almost as if it was carefully planned in advance by those who have been working diligently to create a New World Order.
What a waste of money all for a negative result. A real botch-up. Law abiding firearm owners hit while gangs and criminals are better off, having acquired more illegal firearms. Following Adern’s stupid law, gangs in town were offering double the buy-back price government would pay. I don’t condone selling to gangs but human nature being what it is, it happened.
Why couldn’t government see it? Instead they listened to the ignorant police HO bureaucrats and the strident police association head, Chris Cahill
Like many other rushed laws the firearm laws of 2019/20 fail to deliver the desired outcomes.
Can anyone give me an example of something this appalling Ardern government has got right? Take your time, I won’t hold my breath.
The civilised democracy where Joe public could engage in meaningful discussion about important issues with politicians and government officials is now gone in New Zealand.
It has been replaced by authoritarian, fascist, top down decision making where our puppet politicians follow instructions from global criminal organisations within the United Nations and self appointed cabals like the World Economic Forum. The change has been swift.
Unfortunately for these Criminal Cartels some Joe Citizens have long memories, and study history. The English Bill of Rights, 1689, reads “the Subjects which are Protestants may have Arms for their Defence suitable to their Conditions”, and other language protecting the right of Protestants against disarmament by the Crown. The USA’s second amendments to its constitution are very strong on the rights for citizens to own firearms (bear arms). No authoritarian government anywhere has been successful in removing firearms from its countries citizens.
Banning firearms didn’t work in Australia so why would it work there? Go figure!
from reader Stewart:
“Of course New Zealand is no safer .. and it’s unfathomable that anybody thought it ever would be.
Normally, when you propose law changes, you consult with the main user groups (who know what’s going on), and look at international evidence and experience.
Our government did that .. but promptly largely ignored much of the advice they received .. and what any reasonable person would have gleaned from international evidence and experience.
Trampling over our long-fought and hard-won democratic due processes, while doing so.
At the same time (for example) they have allowed the so-called 501’s to return to New Zealand, and bolster our gang numbers unchallenged (they’ve basically doubled) .. with what amounts to a bunch of hard-core, experienced, and organised criminals .. who don’t pussyfoot around, when it comes to violence (involving firearms or not).
What has happened .. is exactly what any reasonable, informed person should have expected to have happened.
Our government targeted the wrong people .. with the wrong law changes .. and we are all reaping the consequences.
The proposed Firearms Register will be the next Big Mistake .. a great, big waste of time .. that will further divert large quantities of police resources away from the real problem .. for no effective gain. (Just the same as policing Auckland borders has allowed a splurge of crime in that city.)
Come on, people — wake up. As the song goes .. as sure as God made little green apples .. night also follows day (or it has so far .. every morning up until this morning, at least).
But don’t take anyone else’s word for it .. you stupid, stupid people .. just get some coke and popcorn .. sit back .. relax (or maybe not) and watch it all unfold, for yourselves.
So far, things have unfolded pretty much as any informed and reasonable person might have predicted .. and one sees no reason whatsoever why that should change? …
If we want to reap a different harvest .. then don’t we need to start by planting a better crop?“