Mass Killing Tragic But Not a Reason to Reconsider Gun Laws

The organisation representing the majority of New Zealand’s licenced firearms owners is today cautioning against knee jerk responses in our country to the tragic mass shooting in England.

12 people were killed and twenty-five wounded when a taxi driver went on a rampage in Cumbria.

Michael Dowling, Chairman of the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO), says no-one hearing about the killings yesterday could have reacted any other way than in shocked disbelief.

But what he says will be even more incomprehensible to many is that such a terrible act could be committed in a country that has adopted, some of the toughest gun laws in the western world.

“The United Kingdom cracked down on gun ownership following the Dunblane killings, banning handguns and placing severe restrictions on sporting long guns.

“Clearly they felt this would in some way prevent any repeats. Sadly, it has not. And the residents of Cumbria could quite reasonably be asking how it was these new tougher laws did not stop this happening again.”

Michael Dowling says perhaps the answer lies not with the firearm but with the person.

“The United Kingdom may have banned some types of firearms but it did not deal with the social problems that lead to unsupported and vulnerable people lashing out violently.

“”But people need to remember it was not the firearm that committed the crime. It was merely the means by which this person chose to inflict pain.”

Michael Dowling says while much is still unknown about what prompted yesterdays kill-ings, what is clear is that tougher gun laws did not safeguard this community.

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“Perhaps the new laws failed in this case simply because it is not the responsible mem-bers of society who licence their guns and follow the rules who commit these atrocities.

“Rather it is those people who for whatever reason are not responsible, or who become irresponsible, and have no respect for the law who are to blame.”

Michael Dowling says COLFO expects renewed calls for our own laws to be tightened in the wake of the killings.

“This is the normal reaction. People are looking for answers, for a quick fix, to feel reas-sured that it could never happen here.

“What we are saying is that while we would never want to experience such a terrible event, we do not believe tightening our gun laws will in any way safeguard us or prevent it

“What is needed is not firearms bans but appropriate funding to ensure all people in soci-ety are properly supported and criminals prevented from creating a trade in illegal weap-ons – a trade not hindered, but assisted by firearms bans.”

New Zealand gun law focuses not on the firearm but on the individual, many of whom are sports people who are deemed fit and proper and approved licence owners.

COLFO supports the existing gun application and vetting process managed by our police along with other agencies such as Mountain Safety Council.

“We trust both Police and Government stay true to this established and proven process which has already been endorsed by the wider New Zealand community, and not be wooed into considering tougher measures by any post tragedy reactions.”

ENDS

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