Tighter controls for airguns introduced

Police Minister Judith Collins. Photo / The Daily Post

The Government is to tighten import controls on airguns that look like real pistols, military style semi-automatic firearms (MSSAs) or restricted weapons.

Police Minister Judith Collins said replicas were frequently used by criminals as they were easily mistaken for real firearms.

"Police estimate that there could be up to one incident a week where a member of the public presents an airgun that looks like a real pistol, MSSA, or restricted weapon requiring an armed police response, sometimes involving a call-out of the Armed Offenders Squad," she said.

The Government has been looking at laws around high-powered airguns after pneumatic (PCP) air rifles were used in two fatal shooting, including the murder of Police Sergeant Don Wilkinson.

Ms Collins today introduced an amendment to the Arms Act to the House, which would require anyone planning to import the airguns to get a permit.

The Arms Amendment bill will also clarify how MSSAs are defined in legislation.

She said the move was necessary after a High Court decision which created uncertainty as to whether some semi-automatic firearms were MSSAs or not.

Regulations had been changed to require owners of PCP air rifles to hold a firearm licence from October 2010.

- NZPA