Wednesday, 31 July 2019 13:55

Gun register likely to misfire – Feds

Written by 
Feds security spokesman Miles Anderson. Feds security spokesman Miles Anderson.

Misgivings about the practicality and cost of a firearms register are likely to dominate feedback from rural people on the second round of proposed Arms Act amendments, says Federated Farmers.

Feds rural security spokesman Miles Anderson anticipates support for many aspects of the changes, especially tighter controls on firearms ownership and licensing.

“When firearms are used irresponsibly or illegally in New Zealand it is often farmers who suffer the consequences in the theft of livestock, poaching of wild animals or the risks of dangerous behaviour. Hopefully some of these proposed changes will help to prevent that,” Anderson says.

But he says the registration of firearms is a contentious issue. Feds has previously opposed compulsory registration of all firearms because of complexity and cost, and questionable safety benefits and likely success. 

“We haven’t had a firearms register in NZ for almost 40 years.” A new register will cost plenty -- economically and socially, he said.

“We are very interested in how the police propose to practically manage common activities such as the loaning of firearms between two licensed individuals.” 

But Anderson says Feds will consult its members on the whole range of amendments before submitting.

“We are pleased to see that this time there is a reasonable consultation period. This is a very important issue for farmers and we need to get it right.”

Anderson says Feds will also comment on some of the earlier changes to firearms laws. He says that since the initial changes in April the current pest management criteria have proven unworkable for farmers and land managers who still need to use semi-automatic centrefire rifles.

“Pest animals can be found in very high numbers on some private land and the right tool is needed to [kill] them humanely and effectively,” Anderson says. 

“Continued access to these firearms under strict controls is essential for both our primary industries and indigenous biodiversity. 

“We will use the second round of consultation to revisit this important issue with the select committee.”

More like this

Editorial: Sensible move

OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.

Dairy unity

OPINION: A last-minute compromise ensured that the election of the new Federated Farmers national dairy chair wasn't a repeat of the Super 15 rugby final - Canterbury versus Waikato.

Featured

Big return on a small investment

Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.

Editorial: Sensible move

OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Overbearing?

OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…

Foot-in-mouth

OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter