The Council of Licensed Firearm Owners (COLFO) warns that a data breach in New Zealand’s Firearms Registry is inevitable, echoing concerns long raised by licensed firearm owners and ignored by successive governments. The recent NZTA privacy breach, exposing 951 vehicle owners’ details and linked to 13 thefts, underscores the vulnerability of centralised databases. For firearm owners, a similar breach could have catastrophic consequences, exposing personal details and firearm ownership to criminals.
COLFO has consistently cautioned against the risks of the Firearms Registry, only to see its predictions validated by incidents like the 2019 Police firearm database breach, which compromised the details of 37,125 owners. “Governments have repeatedly dismissed our warnings about the registry’s security flaws, only to learn we were right when breaches occur,” says COLFO spokesperson Hugh Devereux-Mack.
“The NZTA breach is a wake-up call – the Firearms Registry is a ticking time bomb, and licensed owners will pay the price.:
“When armed criminals turn up at our homes, force us to open our safes, and steal our firearms while traumatizing our families, who will be accountable?”
Licensed firearm owners have no faith in the Firearms Registry’s ability to protect their sensitive information. “The registry is a bureaucratic nightmare that puts law-abiding owners at risk while doing nothing to stop criminals,” Devereux-Mack states. Past breaches of similar systems demonstrate that the system cannot be secured beyond all reasonable doubt, despite assurances from proponents like Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Labour’s Ginny Andersen.
Since its inception in June 2023, the Firearms Registry has failed to reduce gun crime. Police data indicates firearms offences remain high, with no evidence the registry has made a dent. “The registry doesn’t target the real bad guys with guns – the gangs – who won’t comply with it,” Devereux-Mack notes. “It’s a costly distraction that burdens responsible owners while criminals continue unchecked.”
COLFO challenges the Hon. Mark Mitchell, Ginny Andersen, or any politician vouching for the registry’s security to publicly commit to resigning if a breach occurs. If they are confident in the system, they should have no issue putting their careers on the line. “Politicians need to stop gambling with our safety and take responsibility when this registry fails,” says Devereux-Mack. “Who will answer for the harm caused when private details fall into the wrong hands?”
As the Arms Act rewrite progresses, COLFO urges the government to heed the expertise of organisations like COLFO, which have accurately predicted past failures. “We’ve been sounding the alarm for years, only to be ignored until it’s too late,” Devereux-Mack warns. “The new Arms Act must prioritise the input of licensed owners and groups like COLFO to create practical, secure, and effective legislation that targets criminals, not responsible citizens.”
Media Contact:
Hugh Devereux-Mack Spokesperson, Council of Licensed Firearm Owners Website: www.colfo.org.nz
WELL SAID COLFO AND HUGH.
AN ADMIRABLE WATCHDOG. WHY IS MARK MITCHELL AS MINISTER BACKING A REGISTRY WHEN CANADA SPENT $2 BILLION AND THEN DITCHED THE IDEA? THANK GOODNESS NICOLE MCKEE IS IN PARLIAMENT.