Tough gun laws pass, but

A second tranche of gun reforms is set to become law, but NZ First says it plans to reopen the debate after the election.

The Arms Legislation Bill, which had been mired in delay, passed its third reading yesterday, 63 votes to 50.

The first new law following the March 15 terror attack last year saw a ban on assault rifles and military style semi-automatics. This law includes a firearms registry, harsher penalties, and a warning system to show if a licence holder is a fit and proper person.

The National Party and ACT opposed the bill.

Only 48 of National’s 55 MPs voted on the bill because others were absent due to Covid-19 flight schedules.

The law will take effect from next week.

The vote came after months of to and froing between NZ First and Labour.

During the third reading, NZ First MP Ron Mark told the House his party had had a lot of conversations around the legislation.

‘‘We believe we have struck a balance that will reopen the conversation around this act. I know that some people will want to celebrate and say they have won a battle they were fighting for some time.’’

It was ‘‘not over’’ because his party had negotiated a postimplementation review, he said.

‘‘We mean to review and test the risk benefits that were argued ...whether these decisions we make today, on the advice of police, stack up.’’

The last-minute agreement forged between Labour and NZ First saw a decision to include establishing an independent entity to take over firearms licensing and administration from police. But setting up the