On Tuesday the National Party went public on what it claims is a leaked copy of the Government’s draft legislation detailing the next round of firearms law reforms.
We have also obtained a copy of the draft Bill, the details of which are best summarised in the NZ Herald coverage, and in the One News story Nicole appeared in on Tuesday night.
At first take, new measures, such as the dramatic increases in penalties for existing offences, defy logic. For example, the maximum fines for any breach of licence requirements will go from $5,000 up to $20,000. Failing to produce a firearm when the police ask for it will see a maximum fine increase from $1,000 to $10,000.
It reminds me of what Peter King wrote in 2010 in the AA Directions magazine on the psychology behind road design:
“the crudest form of behaviour modification is punishment. (Fines) work to some extent but not on everyone. The best way to change behaviour is to change environments.”
This government is changing the environment for the worse.
Currently, the police vet firearms licence applicants to determine if they are fit and proper. In doing so they must confirm that potential licence holders have demonstrated that they are trustworthy and responsible. This is, for example, reflected in the number and nature of any convictions for breaches of the law in the past.
The government has not provided any evidence that the existing level of fines has resulted in firearm owners ignoring the requirements. Instead, they are potentially introducing escalated fines to imply there is a problem and to imply that firearm owners are no better than common criminals.
Rather than offering a fair buyback price to encourage the right behaviour, the government appears intent on vilifying and undermining the reputation of licensed firearm owners in an effort to save money implementing their program of confiscation.
Police Minister Stuart Nash, while not confirming the leaked proposals are accurate, told One News that reform is “about keeping our community safe”.
But if the government really wants to keep Kiwis safe, it wouldn’t look at more ways to punish law-abiding, responsible firearms owners, it would look at ways of removing firearms from the people who are the real problem – the crooks.
The proposed changes also ‘clamp down’ on gun clubs. But gun clubs and ranges are places where those interested in firearms can go to safely enjoy the use of our legal firearms. The proposals the government is pushing are likely to drive people away from ranges to where safety protocols may not be as strict. These changes have the potential to reduce the number of ranges when we should be increasing them to control and promote the right behaviour with firearms.
Firearm associations have worked hard for many decades, to build ranges and encourage club attendance, to ensure the right behaviours and safety practices are passed on to existing and new licence holders. These changes have the potential to destroy that work in quick time, driving shooting to back to an uncontrolled activity.
Thankfully, the government has an opportunity to rethink its proposals. If safety really is the priority, they need to start again and work constructively with firearms owners, not against us.
Clarification about the timing of registration of newly prohibited firearms
In April it had been indicated that there would be a cut off date of 30 September to register prohibited firearms with New Zealand Police. Our advice was taken from media reports rather than the legislation subsequently imposed later in June 2019.
We have now been advised that the registration of prohibited firearms ends when the amnesty ends on 20 December 2019. But what is concerning is that 30 September looms quickly upon us and there is a provision in the regulations that requires ammunition to be registered by 30 September.
We are concerned that this advice has not been promoted within the firearms community and that compensation is not being offered for the confiscation of ammo. Ironically, a high proportion of this private property was actually purchased from government sources, meaning the government were prepared to take our money to legally purchase this ammunition but are now not prepared to pay us back for it.
NZ Post issues
This week we attended a meeting with NZ Post, police, NZ Customs and representatives from firearms retailers. NZ Post has been holding parcels and post relating to firearms parts since March 2019. Last week they released the post that was received by them from 15 March 2019 to 30 June 2019. They are still holding post received through them from 1 July 2019. The groups that attended yesterday’s meeting intend to support NZ Post and other transit companies to find solutions for distribution of the remaining held post and future postal mail. If you are someone affected, please let us know.
On the proposed firearms register
Finally in this update, in case you missed it, Nicole was on TV1’s Breakfast explaining why a firearms register will not keep Kiwis safe. Click on the link to watch the interview.