The New Zealand Police are responsible for enforcing the Arms Act and various unofficial government policies (such as not increasing the number of E-category registered MSSAs beyond about 8,500).[1] The Police tend to lobby around their own access to guns, as the service does not routinely carry sidearms. However all patrol cars currently carry a M4 carbine in a lockbox in the boot of the vehicle, and often a glocknade in a locked glovebox.
Outdoor safety
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council is a federation of organisations with an interest in outdoor safety, including a number of sporting groups, DOC, the New Zealand Police and Defence Force, OSH and ACC.[10] It is responsible for safety education,[11] and volunteers run the safety courses taken by firearms licence applicants.[12] It also runs more specialised courses on hunting safely, first aid, and other outdoor recreational safety issues.
Pro-Gun groups
The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) was set up in 1996.
The Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand is a part-time lobby group that is usually only active at elections and when there are government calls for gun control laws. It is smaller than COLFO. Opinions vary on how "radical" vs. how "soft" these two organisations are.[citation needed]
The National Shooters Association is a nationwide civilian gun owners association that took the forefront in a 2009 legal challenge against unauthorised police interference with gun regulations. Its executive is largely made up of former members the Practical Shooting Institute, a predecessor group which had similar success bringing court action against Police interference in 1990.
Anti-Gun groups
The two major anti-gun groups in recent years have been the Coalition for Gun Control, and Gunsafe NZ. Neither is still active, but were led by activist Philip Alpers and Mike Meyrick, a former police officer and lawyer.[13]
Outdoor safety
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council is a federation of organisations with an interest in outdoor safety, including a number of sporting groups, DOC, the New Zealand Police and Defence Force, OSH and ACC.[10] It is responsible for safety education,[11] and volunteers run the safety courses taken by firearms licence applicants.[12] It also runs more specialised courses on hunting safely, first aid, and other outdoor recreational safety issues.
Pro-Gun groups
The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) was set up in 1996.
The Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand is a part-time lobby group that is usually only active at elections and when there are government calls for gun control laws. It is smaller than COLFO. Opinions vary on how "radical" vs. how "soft" these two organisations are.[citation needed]
The National Shooters Association is a nationwide civilian gun owners association that took the forefront in a 2009 legal challenge against unauthorised police interference with gun regulations. Its executive is largely made up of former members the Practical Shooting Institute, a predecessor group which had similar success bringing court action against Police interference in 1990.
Anti-Gun groups
The two major anti-gun groups in recent years have been the Coalition for Gun Control, and Gunsafe NZ. Neither is still active, but were led by activist Philip Alpers and Mike Meyrick, a former police officer and lawyer.[13]
