Minister for Courts and the Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) Nicole McKee has hit back at Police Association president Chris Cahill’s criticism of her.
“You may have seen the open letter from Police Association President Chris Cahill, expressing concerns about a lack of consultation directly with him, as we move through these first stages of the firearms legislative reforms,” she said.
Nicole McKee said she found Cahill’s concern as ironic.
“ Especially considering that in 2019, immediately following the mosque tragic shooting by an Australian, the Police Association president supported the rushed three-day select committee process that shut out so many of the voices of affected New Zealanders.”
She said Chris Cahill also expressed concerns about being left out of the consultation about the review of the firearms registry content. “The purpose of the review is to evaluate evidence thoroughly – something that should have been done by the previous Government. I understand Mr. Cahill’s feelings, but he can rest assured that he, along with all New Zealanders, will have the opportunity to submit their views as the four phases of firearm law reform move through their legislative process.”
Nicole McKee said she was and is working hard to unravel the harm done to our firearms laws by the previous Labour government.
She has actively sought the views of those most likely to be impacted which includes New Zealand Police as one of the selected targeted consultation groups. NZ Police have given extensive feedback at all stages of consultation.
“Licensed Firearms Owners have told me they were largely ignored during previous ‘consultations’ including through all shortened select committee processes. We’re determined to ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to be heard. This includes the Police Union who will have the same platform as everyone else. The consultations we’ve conducted so far have involved groups established by the previous Government and the New Zealand Police, among others.”
Nicole McKee said she was working every day “to bring sense to the mess of firearms laws left by the Labour government.
Police Union head honcho Chris Cahill is a bad, ill tempered advertisement for police.
The previous government showed an unwillingness to tackle gangs and criminals but a willingness to go after the law abiding firearm owning public.
He’s never mentioned the cock ups that enabled the Ch Ch carry on that brought on all this bullshit.
Chris Cahill is a PR disaster for the NZ Police.
The Labour government and the Police Union president Mr Cahill were shooting at the wrong target in picking on legal firearm owners. It’s the IllEGAL firearm owners in gangs and crims that Mr Cahill and PM Ardern should have been aiming at. Remember the gang shootings during Labour’s reign?