by Tony Orman
Minister for Courts and the Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) Nicole McKee has scrapped the previous Labour government’s stricter regulations on firearm clubs restoring previous rules, but her action has been targeted by the media and a public law ‘expert’.
TV One news obtained documents and in May expressed concern about the “short time frame”. Allegedly a regulatory impact statement showed the Ministry of Justice was unable to carry out any consultation with the public before it became law.
However, in January this year, COLFO spokesperson Hugh Devereux-Mack rebutted Police Union president Chris Cahill’s public attacks on shooting clubs and backed Minister McKee’s efforts to reinstate the laws surrounding firearm-based clubs such as ranges.
Firearm Safety is Paramount
Hugh Deveraux-Mack said such attacks show little knowledge of clubs and ranges, their value and importance to teaching firearm safety.
The Labour government’s laws were criticised by firearm owners and clubs as lacking purpose in paperwork and other requirements and stifling important club activity such as teaching firearm safety.
“New Zealanders with a basic knowledge of range safety records instantly recognise form-filling nonsense that serves no useful purpose to their safety. Most of it is data already available, and recording it makes no one an ounce safer,” said Hugh Deveraux-Mack.
“It is worth noting that the same outrage over the democratic process being rushed was not heard from these critics when the public was given just two days’ notice, and 5 minutes per submission, when the Ardern Government changed firearm laws in 2019,” he added.
Reportedly over 12,000 submissions to Labour’s rushed laws were considered in just two days(!)
“We want to increase availability and membership of clubs and ranges because they are a community-means of driving good practice and openness,” said Hugh Deveraux-Mack.
Otago University academic opines
However, more recently Professor Andrew Geddis of Otago University according to TV One News said the public had been shut out of the process. He was quoted as saying “probably not the right way to make law.”
But back in May — five months ago — Minister McKee announced the Government was consulting New Zealanders on a package of proposals for simple and effective regulation of shooting clubs and ranges.
“Clubs and ranges are not only important for people learning to operate firearms safely, to practice, and to compete, but they are also great community assets,” she said.
“However, law changes in 2020 changed the way that clubs and ranges are regulated, with all shooting clubs needing to be approved, and ranges needing to be certified, often at extensive cost.
“I am concerned these requirements went beyond what was needed to ensure public safety. The current regulations impact the people running clubs and ranges – many of whom are volunteers – and create a risk that they will close,’ said Minister McKee.
“This would have a negative impact on public safety. Club members run many of our ranges, and if a club closes there is no one to operate the range. This leaves no safe venue for the essential tasks of sighting in rifles and educating new licensed firearms owners on firearms safety,” she said.
Reaction to the TV One News item was swift on the website of the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations.
Labour’s Laws were Ludicrous
Firearms researcher and author Chaz Forsyth said the changes to regulations by the Ardern-led Labour government were ludicrous.
“There was a need to fix hasty, ill-considered legislation of Labour,” he said. “Some of Labour’s measures suggest vindictiveness towards shooting clubs, despite clubs operating safely for decades.”
He cited that incidence of injuries on shooting ranges as one injury per year for the past two decades.
Lifelong hunter Charles Baycroft was critical of TV One’s slanted piece criticising minister McKee. “TV One is no longer a source of reliable and unbiased information and that’s why the business is such a failure,” he said. [That’s been the case for many years —Eds]
He continued, “Not surprisingly, in the TV One report there was no mention of the use of such orders in council by people in the previous Neo-Marxist government to decree the changes to firearms regulations that enabled Australian terrorist Tarrant to obtain a license, weapons and ammunition.
“There is no mention of how so many sensible submissions against the discriminatory changes to the legislation speedily imposed after Tarrant’s crime were totally ignored by then prime minister Jacinda Ardern and her cabinet in their failure of a government.”
He added any intelligent person knows that gun clubs and ranges are the safest and most well-regulated places for people to learn and practice the safe use of firearms and also the best place for people to become more proficient and competent firearm users.
Wayne Mackie described minister Nicole McKee as a well-disciplined range shooter who totally understands the firearms industry with her years in the industry.
Amy Kingnorth said the previous Labour government’s strangling of rifle clubs and ranges was typical of hitting the lawful firearm owning public instead of getting stuck into gangs and criminals. She noted Minister McKee announced her intentions back in May – four months ago.
Cars kill many more people than guns
Charlie Lynton compared firearm accidents to cars.
“Anyone who does not have a firearms licence (which proves we are “fit and proper” people to own and use firearms) should have to prove to a far higher standard that they are a fit and proper person to own and drive a motor vehicle, they should also have to pay much more for their drivers’ licences. After all motor vehicles kill and injure many, many times more people every year than lawfully owned guns do.”
Another post said “changes Nicole McKee has made using the Order in Council procedure did not need “public consultation” since they only undid the pointless and onerous restrictions on clubs and ranges that the vile Ardern regime of liars introduced for no other reason than to punish the law-abiding competition shooters and hunters of this country. “
The post said there never was a problem with clubs and ranges which have always been a shining example of the good effects of self regulation. The wider changes which will be introduced in due course are to undo the harm done by Ardern’s draconian measures.
Dave Rhodes commented about the “bleeding hearts MSM bods suddenly objecting to lack of public consultation, when the Ardern-led government pushed through so much during her disastrous time – including draconian gun laws that actually saw negative effects with masses of guns finding their way into criminal hands.”
Another, Jack Tuhawaiki, referred to Labour prime minister Ardern “pushing through law over Covid without having any select committee process and we know what damage, economically, socially and to the public’s ‘well-being’ [Ardern’s term] that did.”
There were other instances of hurried law by Ardern/Hipkins regime such as during covid.
“Did the good professor and media object to those dictatorial moves?” he asked.
Firearm safety is vital in hunting, a popular Kiwi pastime
People that prejudicially label Minister McKee as a “gun lobbyist” are unaware of her past and ongoing efforts to promote the safe and responsible ownership and use of firearms. The correct label for Nicole would be a “firearms safety advocate”.
Most of the ANTI-GUN LOBBYISTS and media propagandists have little or no knowledge or experience with firearms, gun clubs, ranges or what they are commenting about.
As a former member of the Labour party, I often heard the term “those horrible gun people”. The response to the horrible crime committed by Tarrant was based on that prejudice and discrimination.
Responsible licensed owners and users of firearms prioritize safety because they do not want to be injured or cause injury while enjoying their sport.
Minister McKee understands this and is proposing legislation that will encourage compliance with fair and reasonable legislation that will encourage people to comply and cooperate do that the risks of injuries and crimes involving firearms will be less likely.
People that advocate the banning or prohibition of firearms have no idea of what that would result in.
It would only promote more non-compliance and criminalize people just as prohibition of alcohol did.
Sure, a society without alcohol, drugs, offensive weapons or crime is desirable but NOT VERY REALISTIC and neither are Labour’s draconian firearms regulations.
The number of firearms in New Zealand is unknown. They are more than most people think.
There are probably more illegally owned firearms than anyone wants to know about and prejudicial legislation that is resented as unrealistic and unfair will only encourage more of this.
As Minister McKee proposes, the goal of effective legislation needs to be to prevent people with criminal tendencies and intentions from having firearms and also encourage law abiding citizens to comply with licensing and safety requirements.
Is requiring people to register all their firearms cost effective?
Theoretically, perhaps but practically not very likely.
Many people regard this registration as a prelude to further confiscation and are reluctant to comply.
Criminals, people without licenses and others with illegally owned firearms will definitely not comply.
Some or perhaps many LFOs might partially comply and retain some unregistered firearms to avoid possible confiscation.
Is it worth spending hundreds of Millions of our tax dollars in order to get some firearms registered by people with no inclination or intention of misusing them?
We need to consider what is likely to happen to illegally owned or unregistered firearms that will be prevented from being legally owned by Labour’s excessive and ill considered, “urgent” legislation.
A “black market” for the illegal sale and purchase is almost inevitable and that does not promote public safety.
Do we want regulations that discourage compliance and criminalize people or ones that encourage compliance and safety as Minister McKee is proposing?
If we desire the better compliance and safety we should support Minister McKee. An effective way of doing this is to join the ACT party.
Regulatory Impact Statements are a joke. As are university academics and all the other so-called experts who know nothing about the issues compared to Nicole McKee. She ran rings around TV1’s Jack Tame in an interview on Q+A and regularly shows up the know-nothings who purport to be experts on firearms safety.
Please excuse the pun ? > The Media is going off “Half Cocked ” ! If Minister McKee can move & do something positive with illegal Firearms & Gangs , good on her . Also it could be time for another Gun amnesty ?
The problem with gun amnesties is that the bad guys never hand them in. In America many that do hand them in is a result of concerns that in a burglary that’s where they’ll will go, or that their kids or friends’ kids will get access to them and shoot each other.
Correct, only a “No Questions asked ‘ Amnesty could sweep in any old Firearms & Ammo left hanging around in Grandads Shed Etc. , that could get in the wrong hands ! Bearing in mind the N.Z. Maori Cop working for the London Met Police ? not that long ago , so sadly lost his life after being shot by a Criminal with an antique Pistol .