Thread: Your Last Chance to Save Our Pistol Grips

Labour Party Responds to saveourpistolgrips.com

13 August 2013

Thank you for your emails regarding the Arms (Military Style Semi-automatic Firearms and Import Controls) Amendment Act 2012.

Your concerns regarding the consequences of this Act, particularly in regards to sections 4 and 11 were thoroughly debated during the Select Committee stage.

Given the weight of the concerns around a number of issues raised, primarily by firearms organisations and members of the public, Labour proposed an initiative to assist the consultation process.

Labour members of the select committee suggested that an independent reference group be formed that would provide contestable advice to the Minister and would have been an avenue for parties to offer opinion and expert advice in the event of an Order in Council being introduced.

Government members on the Law and Order Select Committee that presided over this Act voted down our proposal. This was unfortunate as this would have given individual or groups that share your concerns an avenue to oppose such changes.

We continue to feel it was unfortunate that the government did not support our move in select committee to allow firearms organisations and members of the public to have their say.
I would like to thank you for expressing your concerns to me.

Yours Sincerely,

Kris Faafoi
Member of Parliament for Mana
Labour Spokesperson for Police | Corrections | Associate Spokesperson for Health