Gun law aims to ‘restore law and order’

According to Deputy Attorney General Nicole McKee, the passage of the Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Amendment Bill is a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to restoring law and order.

“The Firearms Prohibition Amendment Bill was part of this government’s 100-day plan and promised to give police greater powers to search gang members for firearms,” McKee said.

“These firearms are used illegally by gangs and organised crime groups to intimidate, commit violent crimes and in inter-group conflicts.”

The bill, which was passed last week, amends the Arms Act 1983, Search and Surveillance Act 2012 and Sentencing Act 2002 to reform the Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) regime.

McKee said this was the first phase of a programme to reform New Zealand’s outdated firearms law, with a priority on keeping communities safe. The law addresses the “unacceptable” levels of gang-related violence, public intimidation and firearms crime affecting New Zealanders.

“With this bill, we are taking away the ability of gang members and violent offenders to own firearms and giving law enforcement the ability to enforce FPOs.”

The bill introduces three major improvements to the existing FPO regime:

• It expands the qualification criteria for the court to impose an FPO, with an emphasis on gang members and gang crimes.

• It establishes a process by which an FPO can be amended, modified or withdrawn.

• It gives police new search powers to check compliance with an FPO.

“The changes are about making sure people comply with FPOs, it’s not an extra penalty. It’s about checking that they’re complying with the order that’s already been imposed on them. And of course, ultimately, it’s about making our communities safer.”