Tighter firearm controls wanted

Tighter rules on ammunition, gun dealers, gang members, and firearms storage have been proposed after MPS reviewed gun control.

The new proposals showed Parliament’s law and order select committee was ‘‘serious’’ about dealing with illegal firearm possession, the Police Association said.

The cross-party committee’s proposed overhauls were not antigun measures, committee chairman Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi said.

MPS have issued 20 suggestions. Among those, a proposed law change would mean people would need a firearms licence to possess ammunition, unless the person possessing the ammo was under a firearms licence holder’s supervision.

Dealers would also have to keep records of ammunition sales.

The definition of military-style semi-automatics (MSSA) would also be overhauled.

The committee said police should consider creating a category of restricted semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to replace the MSSA firearm endorsement category.

But the MPS also proposed an ‘‘amnesty’’ be extended to cover people who wanted to hand in MSSAS.

In March last year, police seized 14 illegally-owned firearms, including MSSAS, from a home in Takanini, south of Auckland.

That seizure partly triggered the Parliamentary inquiry.

Gang members were lawmakers’ cross-hairs too.

The committee has recommended changing the Arms Act to ‘‘clearly state that a gang member or prospect must not be considered a fit and proper person to possess firearms’’.

Gang members would be prevented from getting firearms licences.

Another law change would mean anyone who didn’t comply with storage regulations would lose their firearms licence.

‘‘The main aim of the inquiry was how to identify illegal arms,’’ Bakshi said.

‘‘One of the things that was really good to see was most people are law-abiding.’’

The Police Association welcomed ‘‘the tough stance’’ recommended for gangs, but said MPS were too soft on gun imports.

“Anything that makes being a member of a gang less appealing, we’re happy with,” association president Chris Cahill said.

‘‘We know of gang members who are licensed firearms carriers and currently there is nothing to stop them purchasing any number of weapons, and then distributing them amongst the gang.’’

But Cahill was displeased with the committee’s attitude to firearm imports.

“There appears to be a glaring omission in the report when it comes to tightening up on the tens of thousands of firearms imported into New Zealand every year. in