The support of Government members on the Law and Order select committee for the report on the Arms Amendment Bill is a slap in the face for Police Minister George Hawkins, National's Corrections spokesperson Brian Neeson said today.

The select committee report was presented to Parliament today. In August last year National members on the committee announced that they had withdrawn their support for the bill.

"After hearing public submissions, Opposition members on the select committee felt that the bill wouldn't bring about safer gun laws as was intended. We believe that the bill should be discarded and the approach outlined in the committee's report should be adhered to by the Government.

"The Government should follow the committee's advice and consult widely to produce a well thought out proposition for firearms control that will actually work and deliver better safety controls.

"National is concerned about safety, security and fairness in our firearms laws and we remain committed to working constructively with groups to develop legislation that will achieve this," Mr Neeson said.

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