Firearms Safety Council Established
Firearms safety, shooting and other organisations concerned about community safety with firearms have combined to form
the Firearms Safety Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The wide-ranging membership of the newly formed Firearms Safety Council of Aotearoa New Zealand demonstrates the deeply
held concern the Council has for community level firearms safety.
Interim Chair of the Firearms Safety Council, retired Police Inspector Mr Joe Green said that that the Council grew out
of a growing concern by these organisations that the firearms safety of communities was at risk.
‘We see highly skilled and motivated volunteer firearms experts delivering safety training to firearms licence
applicants and others’ Green said. ‘However they are no longer trained, qualified or moderated by anyone’.
‘The Firearms Safety Council aims to address this through established national networks of firearms users and others who
have safety at heart’ he said.
One of the key objectives of the Council is to provide advice to government agencies and other organisations, such as
the media, on firearms safety related matters.
‘Central to this objective is representation on the Police Firearms Advisory Forum’, Mr Green said.
The membership of the Firearms Safety Council indicates its far reaching, national and international reach. It includes
the NZ Deerstalkers Association, Pistol NZ, NZ Shooting Federation, NZ Pig Hunters Association, Sporting Shooters
Association of NZ, NZ Sporting Industry Association, Antique and Historical Arms Association, Federated Mountain Clubs,
Target Shooting NZ, Firearms Safety Specialists NZ Ltd, NZ Black Powder Shooting Federation, NZ Service Rifle
Association, Rural Women NZ and Safari Club International (NZ).
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