Peace Movement Aotearoa
4 April 2019
Below is a summary of our submission to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee on the Arms (Prohibited Firearms,
Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill, submitted yesterday.
A. Introduction
Gun control has been a focus of Peace Movement Aotearoa’s work since our inception, and is widely supported by our
member and supporting organisations and individuals. We have campaigned over the past twenty two years for the
recommendations of the 1997 ‘Review of Firearms Control in New Zealand’ report by Justice Thomas Thorp (Thorp report) to
be actioned, and worked on other gun control initiatives here and in the Pacific - most recently on the development of
policy around firearms in New Zealand schools last year.
We were pleased that the government’s response to the mass shooting murders in Christchurch included promptly
instituting a moratorium on semi-automatic weapons of the type used, and the clear commitment to more effective gun
control as one of the changes necessary to reduce the chance of such a tragedy occurring again in future.
However, we are concerned at the extremely restricted time allowed for written submissions and that oral submissions
will only be heard for one day. While we acknowledge issues around gun control have been discussed in parliament since
the Thorp report, and we certainly support the urgent need for effective gun control, the specific provisions of this
legislation have not previously been discussed. Some of our member groups who wished to make a submission on the Bill
have been in touch to say they simply do not have the capacity to do so in such a short period of time. Even a period of
one week for written submissions, followed by two weeks of oral hearings, would have ensured prompt enactment of this
legislation, while defusing some of the tensions around undue haste.
We appreciate these initial changes are focused on banning and restricting some semi-automatic weapons, but we urge you
to include as many measures as possible as outlined in our checklist for effective gun control (section C below) at this
point in time, and to recommend the others be instituted as soon as possible.
B. Comments on the Bill
Due to the limited time frame, we have not had the chance to fully consider the detail of this Bill, but there are two
matters that we wish to comment on.
Firstly, we are concerned that shotguns, including pump-action shotguns, that are capable of firing up to five
cartridges before re-loading is required, and firearms that are capable of firing up to ten 0.22 calibre or less rimfire
cartridges before re-loading is required, appear to be excluded from any form of restriction.
It is our view that any semi-automatic weapon not included in the prohibition and any weapon - regardless of calibre -
that can fire more than two shots before re-loading is required, must be re-classified to require an ‘E’ category
license endorsement. This additional licensing requirement would contribute to public safety but would not be an undue
burden on responsible firearm owners.
Secondly, with regard to section 30B.2, we can see no reason whatsoever why a person making a broadcast or producing or
staging a play would need a prohibited weapon, when computer-generated image / images or an imitation firearm would
suffice. With regard to an exemption for “filming a cinematic production or television film or making a video
recording”, we are not convinced that a prohibited weapon is necessary for these purposes either, but if it is deemed
that it is, then we suggest that provision specifically includes a requirement that only blank ammunition is to be used.
C. Other measures for effective gun control
From our experience, firearms lobby groups have had an undue influence on political decision-making around gun control
since 1997, therefore - going forward - we urge you to prioritise public safety above such vested interests and to put
in place the strongest gun control measures possible, while still permitting those engaged in legitimate hunting, pest
control or sports shooting to continue their activities in a manner consistent with public safety.
Last month, we prepared a ‘Checklist for effective gun control in Aotearoa New Zealand’ for our members and supporters,
which we have copied below for your information.
In addition to measures that have now been wholly or partly implemented, the checklist includes points for the short
term around: ammunition purchases; a register of all firearms; a reduced period of time for re-licensing firearm owners;
permanent disabling of all restricted weapons such as privately held machine guns; stricter provisions for license
vetting, licensing, and gun storage; and other recommendations made in the Thorp report such as the establishment of a
fully resourced Independent Firearms Agency.
In the longer term, measures that could be usefully be considered include: a review of the 2018 policy on firearms in
schools, which was unduly influenced by the large proportion of firearms lobbyists and others with vested interests in
promoting firearms on the Ministry of Education ‘Health and Safety Sector Reference Group’; a ban on all advertising of,
promotion of and sponsorship involving firearms, regardless of whether the firearm is banned or restricted, that is
aimed at children or includes images of children; and provision for unannounced visits to all firearm license holders to
check storage arrangements and any other issues considered important for public safety.
The full checklist is available at https://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/a-checklist-for-effective-gun-control-in-aotearoa-new-zealand/2122513954462629 and formatted for printing at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gun-control-checklist.pdf
This summary is available online at https://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/arms-amendment-bill-submission-summary/2142890572424967/
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