Police to implement new firearms laws to keep communities safe

New firearms laws have been passed by Parliament which significantly reform New Zealand’s Arms Act.
 
“On 15 March, our country was shocked by a horrific terrorist attack. This was unprecedented in New Zealand,” says Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Clement.
 
“The Government acted quickly to change New Zealand’s firearms laws and Police is now responsible for implementing and enforcing these new laws.”
 
The main change is the prohibiting of a large number of semi-automatic firearms, parts, and large-capacity magazines. 
 
There will be very few exceptions to this - only collectors, dealers, and people who undertake wild animal pest control will be able to apply for exemptions. 
 
Other key changes include new offences, which Police will be responsible for enforcing. 
 
Details on the changes and what they mean for people can be found on the Police website at: https://www.police.govt.nz/advice/firearms-and-safety/changes-firearms. This includes tables of affected and not affected firearms, and a video demonstrating the same. 
 
“For people who find themselves now in possession of a prohibited firearm, we ask you to please notify us online at the Police website. 
 
“The collection of firearms will occur at a later stage. For now, there is an amnesty in place and we ask people to please notify us. If you have already done so, you do not need to do so again.
 
“Police will advise people of the process for handing over their firearms once we have developed processes for larger scale collection in communities. 
 
“Once details of the buyback are worked through and finalised, Police will announce the details of that also, we know people are very interested in that part of the process. Only the newly prohibited items will be eligible for buyback.
 
“I want to thank those members of the public and firearms community who have already registered their intent to hand-in their firearms.
 
“This is about keeping our communities safe from potential harm and working through these changes together. 
 
ENDS
 
Notes to the editor:
 
Changing firearms laws amend the Arms Act by:
• Banning most semi-automatic firearms and some pump action shotguns; and also certain large capacity magazines.  There are limited exemptions. 
• Placing controls around who may possess parts of prohibited firearms.
 
There will no longer be a category of firearm known as a military style semi-automatic firearm (or MSSA) and the old “E” endorsement will be obsolete.  
 
The newly banned items will be called prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, and prohibited parts. New offences involving prohibited items carry tougher penalties. 
 
Transitional provisions allow for an amnesty until 6 months after the buyback is announced so that those in possession of prohibited items have time to notify Police and can hand over their firearm/s to Police at a later stage when we advise of that process. 
 
Prohibited firearms are:
• All semi-automatic firearms (including semi-automatic shotguns), but:
o excluding rimfire rifles .22 calibre or less as long as they have a magazine (whether detachable or not ) that holds 10 rounds or less; and
o excluding semi-automatic shotguns that have a non-detachable, tubular magazine that holds five rounds or less.
 
• Pump action shotguns that:
o Are capable of being used with a detachable magazine; or
o Have a non-detachable tubular magazine capable of holding more than 5 cartridges.
 
Only a person who meets one of the exemption categories and who has applied for and obtained a new endorsement and permit to possess may lawfully possess a prohibited firearm.
 
Prohibited magazines are:
• Shotgun magazines (whether detachable or not) capable of holding more than 5 rounds.
• Magazines for other firearms (excluding pistols) that are:
• Detachable magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds and that are capable of holding 0.22 calibre or lower rimfire cartridges 
• Detachable magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds and that are capable of being used with a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm
• Other magazines, detachable or not, that are capable of holding more than 10 rounds.
 
Only a person who meets one of the exemption categories and who has applied for and obtained a new endorsement and permit to possess may lawfully possess a prohibited magazine.
 
Prohibited parts are:
• Parts of prohibited firearms; and
• Components that can be used to make a firearm fire with (or near to) semi-automatic or automatic action.
 
Only a person who has an endorsement permitting them to possess a prohibited firearm may lawfully possess a prohibited part.