A comprehensive review of gun laws introduced in New Zealand after the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings has sparked concerns among advocacy groups. The current rightwing coalition government is moving forward with the review, which could potentially unwind measures put in place by former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s administration.
The review includes examining the Firearms Registry and rewriting regulations surrounding gun use and ownership. This initiative fulfills a commitment made in the coalition agreement between the National Party and the ACT Party.
One of the key measures introduced after the Christchurch attacks was the creation of a firearms registry and a ban on military-style semi-automatic rifles. While these changes received strong public support, some gun owners criticized them, claiming the laws unfairly targeted them without improving public safety.
Nicole McKee, a former gun lobbyist turned minister, is overseeing the rewrite of the country’s gun laws, raising concerns among gun control advocates that this could lead to a loosening of firearms controls.
Despite some signals from the government suggesting a potential loosening of restrictions on semi-automatic rifles, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has stated that there will be no new guns added into circulation as a result of the reforms.
The Ardern-era reforms brought New Zealand’s firearms laws closer to international good practice standards according to Alexander Gillespie, a professor of international law, who highlighted the ease of access to semi-automatic firearms before the changes. While it is too soon to determine the impact of the reforms on reducing extremism and violence, advocates are worried that the current review may undermine the progress made in gun control legislation in the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks.
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