National lays out 13 changes the Government needs to adopt before it supports more gun laws

National's police spokesman Brett Hudson said National had always said there would need to be a number of changes to the legislation before it considered supporting the bill. Photo / Mark Mitchell

National has revealed more than a dozen changes it says the Government would need to implement before it would support the second tranche of gun law reforms.

But the Arms Legislation Bill – which will have its first reading tomorrow – is on track to pass regardless of whether or not it receives support from the Opposition.

National was never likely to support the second tranche of reforms, despite voting with the Government on the first tranche – which banned most semi-automatic assault weapons and high powered magazines in New Zealand.

The second tranche will introduce a national firearms register and impose higher penalties for those who breach the law.

National had always said there would need to be a number of changes to the legislation before it considered supporting the bill.

Those changes, outlined today for the first time, include more flexible firearm rules for gun and sports clubs, as well as requiring "common-sense rules".

These rules would allow for wider exemptions for farmers and owners of rural land to control pests.

"The Government has unduly focused responsibility and regulation on law-abiding gun owners and hasn't done enough to address access to guns by gangs and those involved in criminal activity," National's police spokesman Brett Hudson said.

He added that the overwhelming majority of firearm owners are good, law-abiding citizens.

National, he said, want to see reforms which focus on people who could pose a risk to society and won't unduly impact law-abiding New Zealanders.

Although National does not oppose a nation-wide firearms register, Hudson said the party does want some clarity around how one would operate.

Police Minister Stuart Nash has been approached for comments, as to whether the Government would consider adopting these changes to get National onside tomorrow.

But it is unlikely Nash would be swayed.

Last week, he said National was ignoring the victims of gun violence by refusing to support the second tranche of the gun law reforms as they are.

He said the party had chosen to listen to a "small, but vocal minority who are set against any change".