Gun registry blunders show ACT is right

“Two more blunders just this week show ACT has been correct to oppose the creation of a firearms registry,” says ACT MP and licensed firearms owner Cameron Luxton.

“As ammunition purchases became an activating event for the firearms registry this week, the system for dealer transactions was down.

“Police have known about the deadline since before the registry launched in 2023. It has no excuse not to deliver a functioning digital system for ammunition sales.

“Also this week, media has reported that a Police officer inappropriately accessed the Police database 1,700 times.

“ACT is aware of six breaches involving firearms data by Police since 2019.

“This is yet more evidence that Police cannot be trusted with the private firearms data of LFOs, and of the risks associated with centralising such sensitive information in the registry.

“Information in the firearms registry, if leaked, will become a steal-to-order list for gangs and criminals. If privacy breaches keep happening, New Zealanders will be less safe.

“Overseas experience has shown that full registration of firearms doesn’t work. The cost of Canada’s firearms register blew out to over $2 billion, achieved only limited participation from firearms owners, and was then dumped in 2011.

“Like the gun ‘buyback’, responsible firearm owners will be forced to comply while gang members carry on their merry way and ignore it. There will be no change to the number of illegal guns on the street.

“While we acknowledge the Government’s position, we have agreed to disagree on the registry issue. Attempting to register every firearm in the country, and centralising this information within an agency which has shown time and again that it cannot be trusted to manage it, is foolish.”