fallingblock
Member
I feel that posting this letter will assist in illustrating to gun owners everywhere the unethical methods being used to force registration on firearms owners even where there is no popular support for such action...the reference below to the U.N. is purely to give a sense of 'higher purpose' to Minister Hawkins personal anti-gun agenda
***************************************************
Office of Hon George Hawkins
Minister of Police
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Civil Defence
Minister of Veterans' Affairs
1 7 JUN 2003
John Howat
Chairman New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners
P 0 Box 24-020 Wellington
Dear Mr Howat
Thank you for your letter of 14 May 2003 about firearms
registration.
The background to the proposed introduction of a new Arms
Amendment Bill is as follows.
The Arms Amendment Bill (No 2) was brought before Parliament
by the previous government in 1999. The report on the Bill
by the Law and Order Select Committee was tabled in
Parliament on 22 February 2001. The Committee was unable to
reach a recommendation as to whether the Bill should
proceed.
The Government has determined that the 1999 Bill will not
proceed in 2003.
The Committee's consideration showed that the Bill was
deficient and there was a need to review the approach taken
on firearm control by the Bill. I therefore intend to
proceed with some form of firearm registration by means of
new legislation to be introduced this year. There has also
been work undertaken by the United Nations on developing
common principles for combating the illicit manufacturing of
and trafficking in firearms, their parts, components and
ammunition in a transnational context. If New Zealand is to
be a party to this type of multilateral undertaking, then
there will need to be amendments to the Arms Act 1983.
The licensing process in the Arms Act provides a strong
basis for firearm control, by requiring that all firearm
owners be licensed to own and use firearms. This will
remain the cornerstone of firearm control. Other controls,
such as firearm registration, have the potential to be
useful adjuncts to firearm licensing.
Policy decisions on, the nature of the registration process
have yet to be reached, but I am of the view that the
process must be cost-effective, easy to implement and
encourage compliance. The Commissioner of Police has been
asked to ensure that the expressed views of those with an
interest in firearm ownership and use are considered in the
process of developing legislation. There will also be an
opportunity for the public to make submissions after the
proposed legislation is introduced in Parliament and it has
been referred to Select Committee for consideration.
Yours sincerely
(signed)
Hon George Hawkins Minister of Police
***************************************************
Office of Hon George Hawkins
Minister of Police
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Civil Defence
Minister of Veterans' Affairs
1 7 JUN 2003
John Howat
Chairman New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners
P 0 Box 24-020 Wellington
Dear Mr Howat
Thank you for your letter of 14 May 2003 about firearms
registration.
The background to the proposed introduction of a new Arms
Amendment Bill is as follows.
The Arms Amendment Bill (No 2) was brought before Parliament
by the previous government in 1999. The report on the Bill
by the Law and Order Select Committee was tabled in
Parliament on 22 February 2001. The Committee was unable to
reach a recommendation as to whether the Bill should
proceed.
The Government has determined that the 1999 Bill will not
proceed in 2003.
The Committee's consideration showed that the Bill was
deficient and there was a need to review the approach taken
on firearm control by the Bill. I therefore intend to
proceed with some form of firearm registration by means of
new legislation to be introduced this year. There has also
been work undertaken by the United Nations on developing
common principles for combating the illicit manufacturing of
and trafficking in firearms, their parts, components and
ammunition in a transnational context. If New Zealand is to
be a party to this type of multilateral undertaking, then
there will need to be amendments to the Arms Act 1983.
The licensing process in the Arms Act provides a strong
basis for firearm control, by requiring that all firearm
owners be licensed to own and use firearms. This will
remain the cornerstone of firearm control. Other controls,
such as firearm registration, have the potential to be
useful adjuncts to firearm licensing.
Policy decisions on, the nature of the registration process
have yet to be reached, but I am of the view that the
process must be cost-effective, easy to implement and
encourage compliance. The Commissioner of Police has been
asked to ensure that the expressed views of those with an
interest in firearm ownership and use are considered in the
process of developing legislation. There will also be an
opportunity for the public to make submissions after the
proposed legislation is introduced in Parliament and it has
been referred to Select Committee for consideration.
Yours sincerely
(signed)
Hon George Hawkins Minister of Police
