A number of gaps in the gun laws mean the legislation was "difficult or unable" to be enforced, police told Minister Stuart Nash.
Gaping holes in gun laws mean the chances of police discovering a firearms owner breaking the law was "negligible", according to a briefing to Police Minister Stuart Nash.
One example was an A-category licence holder legally purchasing a semi-automatic and converting the weapon into a Military Style Semi Automatic (MSSA) by slotting in a high capacity magazine - exactly what the alleged Christchurch terrorist did.
It's illegal to do so but the sale of high capacity magazines - some of which can hold 100 rounds - is unregulated.
The November 2018 police briefing, obtained under the Official Information Act, was responding to questions from Police Minister Stuart Nash who was considering amendments to the Arms Act.
Nash queried whether police were putting enough resources into enforcement of current obligations of licence holders.
"It is not solely a question of resourcing, though the gap between revenue from the licensing and permitting regime and the costs of managing that regime is large and growing," the report said.
"Beyond resource limitations, there are gaps in the legislative system that make the system difficult or unable to be enforced."
As well as pointing out the lack of regulation on MSSA parts, such as high capacity magazines, police noted several other loopholes.
Continues...
Christchurch mosque shootings: Police Minister Stuart Nash told 'gaps' in gun laws impossible to police
Gaping holes in gun laws mean the chances of police discovering a firearms owner breaking the law was "negligible", according to a briefing to Police Minister Stuart Nash.
One example was an A-category licence holder legally purchasing a semi-automatic and converting the weapon into a Military Style Semi Automatic (MSSA) by slotting in a high capacity magazine - exactly what the alleged Christchurch terrorist did.
It's illegal to do so but the sale of high capacity magazines - some of which can hold 100 rounds - is unregulated.
The November 2018 police briefing, obtained under the Official Information Act, was responding to questions from Police Minister Stuart Nash who was considering amendments to the Arms Act.
Nash queried whether police were putting enough resources into enforcement of current obligations of licence holders.
"It is not solely a question of resourcing, though the gap between revenue from the licensing and permitting regime and the costs of managing that regime is large and growing," the report said.
"Beyond resource limitations, there are gaps in the legislative system that make the system difficult or unable to be enforced."
As well as pointing out the lack of regulation on MSSA parts, such as high capacity magazines, police noted several other loopholes.
Continues...
Christchurch mosque shootings: Police Minister Stuart Nash told 'gaps' in gun laws impossible to police