Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Nationwide hearings needed on firearms law

The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) says the Government should take its proposed firearms legislation to the people with a touring Select Committee, as it just has with the Zero Carbon bill.

COLFO Spokesperson Nicole McKee has challenged Police Minister Stuart Nash to support an extended period in which the Select Committee holds hearings in towns and cities throughout New Zealand.

Stuart Nash said on Friday that it “important we hear from all New Zealanders” because firearm use “impacts on every person in the community.”

“We challenge Mr Nash to put his sentiments to the test – encourage the Select Committee to go out and talk to ordinary people.

“Finding people ‘concerned’ about misuse of firearms won’t be hard – but that’s different to finding evidence that these plans will do anything to make people safer.

“What they will find is that their Bill affects far more ordinary law-abiding citizens than they expected, while criminals and people with bad intent will not be caught.”

Nicole said it was fatuous for the Prime Minister and Police Minister to claim the Bill would make people “safe” and “as protected as they can be from the potential for another attack”.

“It might make people feel safer, but it won’t make them physically safer.”

Nicole requested that Jacinda Ardern show evidence behind her claim on Friday that the Christchurch shooting had “exposed weaknesses in legislation which we have the power to fix.”

“Where is the evidence behind these proposals? Where is the link between anything in the shooting and each proposal in the Bill? The government needs to provide evidence that each of its solutions will fix a specific problem. Some changes could help, but this will have solutions to problems that don’t exist.”


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.