ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Police spokesman Ken Shirley is urging the Government to withdraw the troubled Arms Amendment Bill.

“The Government proposed the registration of individual firearms. This has been clearly shown to be an administrative nightmare that would fail to achieve any worthwhile purpose.

“The main abusers of firearms are criminals and they will not register them,” said Ken Shirley.

“From evidence presented at the select committee it was clear that the existing requirements for the registration of hand guns and military style semi-automatic weapons are adequate.

“The select committee has failed to report to Parliament after four extended deadlines and so the Government should now abandon its plans to completely overhaul the firearms control legislation.

“The firebrand Ministers – Goff, Robson and Hawkins – who have championed tougher gun laws, should now go back to their drawing boards and recognise that the existing legislation based on the licensing of firearm owners is preferable to the registration of all firearms,” concluded Ken Shirley.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media