The Arms Bill introduced today is a major retreat for Nicole McKee and a clear win for public safety, after Labour successfully pushed to strip out her most extreme pro-gun proposals.

“Labour forced the Government to drop Nicole McKee’s dangerous and ideological plans,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said.

“This Bill is a victory for public safety advocates and a failure for Nicole McKee, a former gun lobbyist who came to Parliament to make weapons easier to access.

“Labour has been crystal clear: the Firearms Safety Authority must remain with Police, and military style semi-automatic weapons, like those used in the Christchurch terror attack, must not be back on our streets.

“Nicole McKee has failed on both fronts thanks to the pressure from Labour and public safety advocates, and we are willing to support this Bill through to Select Committee.

“It’s ideological nonsense to ban sworn police officers from roles in the Firearms Safety Authority.

“Labour will keep fighting for stronger gun laws that keep Kiwis safe, and we will not stop until these issues are fixed.

“Nicole McKee campaigned on removing firearms regulation from Police and deregulating military style semi-automatic weapons. That dangerous agenda has now failed, and New Zealand is safer for it,” Ginny Andersen said.