COLFO News Issue # 5 December 2024

COLFO Submission on Clubs & Ranges Bill
COLFO made a written and oral Submission on the Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting
Ranges, and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. While strongly supporting the Bill, and
transfer of regulatory powers from Police to Ministry of Justice, COLFO raised a number
of concerns and made several recommendations for change.
Further consideration needs to be given to enrolment of ranges and the different
operators such as volunteer, commercial and those unaffiliated to a national body.
Flaws were found in the definition of a pistol range, especially when applied to multi
discipline facilities, COLFO recommended the definition be amended to: Pistol shooting
range" means a shooting range specifically designed for, and used for, shooting activities
involving pistols.
Temporary Non-pistol shooting ranges were strongly supported, recommending an
“event” be redefined as: “An event is a shooting activity conducted at a specific
location temporarily over a period of a day or multi-day.”
COLFO opposed the high level of fines ($10,000) for non compliance as disproportionate.
Without publication of Regulations relating to enrolment of Non Pistol clubs and ranges,
their impact is not able to be assessed, therefore the time for implementation should be
extended to 12 months.
Compliance Inspections should only be carried out by FSA staff at a reasonable time as
agreed by both parties. Original documents should not be removed.
All clubs and ranges that have submitted applications for certification under present law
should be allowed to continue operating until enrolment is confirmed.
Approximately 560 written submissions were made on the Bill with
about 75% in support.
All submissions may be found at https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/ >
Select Committees > Submissions and Advice > Filter 7 November 2024
Sika Show
COLFO held a stand at this popular show at Mystery Creek at the beginning of November.
With 10,500 punters through the door it was a great opportunity for the team to engage
with shooters and discuss issues of concern such as the Clubs & Ranges Bill, Firearm
registry and much more.
Coronial Inquiry Into How Tarrant Got a Firearm Licence
Barrister Grant Fletcher a COLFO Board member represented COLFOs interests at the
Inquiry in October and Michael Dowling, past Chair, provided expert witness testimony.
From the outset Police as represented by Firearms Safety Authority admitted their
failings in the licensing process and all those involved were required to give evidence
and be cross examined.
A number of other “expert” witnesses were called to give evidence on such matters as
to how Tarrant may have undertaken his attack if he had not held a firearms licence,
where he may have obtained weapons, his competence as a shooter, and other factors
that could have influenced the outcome.
We are unable to talk about the testimony due to suppressions in place. However it was
vital for COLFO to be involved as a number of misconceptions held by the Media and
general public about COLFOs role were able to be corrected.
A prime example of this was the so called “magazine loophole” that allowed Tarrent to
convert A Cat firearms to MSSAs, that caused a flurry in the Media recently. COLFO
raised this problem with police as early as 2015, and the police subsequently briefed
various Police Ministers, however COLFO can not make laws, only the government can do
that.
Health and Wellbeing of Licensed Firearm Owners
The FSA has issued a new flyer detailing what you should do and who must be informed
if you suffer mental or physical illness that may affect your ability to be safety in
possession of a firearm. This applies to your family members also.
The flyer is available on the FSA website.
Labour Stirs Up Trouble for Clubs and Ranges Bill
Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen repeated claims made by the Police
Association about gang members using club ranges for training, when she questioned
Police Minister Mark Mitchell in Parliament.
Police have been pushing for more frequent range inspections over those proposed by
the Bill.
COLFO is attempting to get to the true facts of a quoted incident of a patched gang
member using a .50 cal on a range. It should be remembered that in 2021 police revoked
licenses of 12 gang members, there are currently none.
Best Wishes for the Summer Holidays and Festive Season
From Your Hard Working COLFO Volunteers
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