Earlier: Tipple said Tarrant made his first purchase from the store a month after gaining his gun license, and his last purchase in March 2018.
Interest in semi-automatic guns is surging as a ban looks increasingly likely, while some stores have opted to remove them voluntarily following Friday's mosque attacks.
Scrutiny has intensified over New Zealand's gun laws since the terrorist attack in Christchurch that left 50 people dead after shootings at the city's two mosques.
Yesterday, the owner of Gun City, David Tipple, confirmed his business sold four weapons and ammunition to the accused gunman. However, he denied the AR-15 used was from his store and was unable to verify if the shotgun was either.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that next week changes to gun laws would be announced, with indications a ban on military semi-automatic weapons would be among them. She urged gun owners to follow the lead of others and hand them over to police.
Gun City owner David Tipple confirmed his business sold four weapons and ammunition to the accused gunman. Photo / File
"We just want to wait and see what the law is going to be."
Students take part in a vigil for victims in the mosque attacks near Hagley Park, Christchurch. Photo / Michael Craig
Most of the discussion around gun laws has been on a loophole which means semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15 can be purchased with a standard A-category licence.
But these weapons can be converted into a Military Style Semi Automatic (MSSA) by simply inserting a high-capacity magazine.
Anyone - with or without a firearms licence - can purchase high-capacity magazines which can hold up to 100 rounds.
This gap in the legislation was exploited by the alleged shooter in Christchurch.
Taylor said they would also support increasing the threshold to purchase those magazines.
"We already thought it was crazy they could be sold to someone with an A-category licence, we would support an increase to category E."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said changes to gun laws would be announced next Monday. Photo / Lucy Bennett
Comments on Kiwi Gun Blog's Facebook page on Saturday indicated there had been an increase in activity at gun stores across the country.
One person commented that two of the country's major gun stores were "packed and most of the cheaper ARs sold out".
Kiwi Gun Blog's Mike Loder said the looming ban could see more demand, and warned it could also send guns underground.
"There is talk of 'panic buying', but really it is people who may already have spent money on trips and need gear, or need it in the future. Media say it is stockpiling but it is sportsmen getting what they need.
"Everywhere [a ban] has been tried the guns have gone underground, and the government loses control of them."
Loder said before any decisions there needed to be a full inquiry into the shootings.
"They could find gun policies have not been properly followed.
"If they find there is a problem with the gun laws I'll demand that change myself, but this idea of destroying a sporting culture without a proper investigation is just bizarre."
Loder said if a ban on semi-automatic weapons came into play, the Government must provide compensation to gun owners.
An AR-15 gun that could be subjected to a ban. Photo / File
Wairarapa farmer and Green Party candidate John Hart said he dropped off his semi-automatic rifle at a police station "no questions asked" yesterday.
"Until today I was one of the New Zealanders who owned a semi-automatic rifle. On the farm they are a useful tool in some circumstances, but my convenience doesn't outweigh the risk of misuse," he said on Twitter.
Another Twitter user, Fay Hag, said: "Daughter of crack-shot food-hunting parents, I have used guns from the age of nine. Today I requested that those guns be handed in for destruction."
Police asked people who wanted to surrender their firearms to police to call ahead, given the current security situation.
Hunting & Fishing New Zealand confirmed yesterday it was also pulling all "military-style" semi-automatic firearms from sale nationwide in the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks.
Chief executive Darren Jacobs said the company broadly supported tighter gun controls in New Zealand.
Trade Me also announced it had pulled all listings for semi-automatic weapons ahead of any potential ban.
After the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, then-Prime Minister John Howard acted swiftly to ban semi-automatic weapons in Australia.
Thirty-five people were murdered by Martin Bryant, who was firing two MSSA firearms, in Tasmania.
Howard moved quickly to push for new laws which banned automatic and semi-automatic weapons, established a comprehensive national firearms registration, and an amnesty period for prohibited and unregistered weapons to be surrendered.
In the "buy-back" scheme, the Australian Government purchased 700,000 firearms.
