Jesus wept…
Checking the record on Firearms Minister’s Q+A interview
Documents released to Q+A have raised questions about advice Nicole McKee says she gave in 2017 on a so-called loophole in firearms law – a loophole later used by the Christchurch terrorist.
However, the Associate Justice Minister said this week her advice was consistent with what she had said in a Q+A interview in August.
Before she became an ACT MP, McKee was appointed by then-police minister Paula Bennett to give independent advice on a select committee’s report into illegal gun ownership in New Zealand.
The 2017 select committee report raised concerns over the definition of military-style semi-automatics (MSSA). The committee said the law, as it was back then, would allow someone with the most basic gun license to legally buy an “A Category” semi-automatic firearm and, separately, buy a high-capacity magazine.
Because of the interchangeability of parts, the select committee said the “A Category” semi-automatic firearm could easily be transformed into what is supposed to be a highly restricted MSSA.
The select committee said it was difficult to enforce rules around conversions, and recommended the then-National government investigate creating a restricted semi-automatic rifle and shotgun category to address the so-called loophole. The government later rejected the recommendation.
Two years later, Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant was able to use the loophole to build his weapons and kill 51 people.
In her August interview with Q+A, McKee said she supported tidying up the loophole during the 2017 select committee inquiry.
When asked if she used the unique opportunity of directly advising the minister in order to close the loophole, McKee said: “Definitely.”
Q+A has obtained a copy of written advice submitted by McKee and another independent advisor at the time, under the Official Information Act.
The loophole was not mentioned in the 12-page, 4000-word submission.
McKee and her colleague formally advised Bennett to reject the committee’s recommendation to look at reclassifying and potentially restricting semi-automatic firearms.
In her Q+A interview, McKee said she made that recommendation because she preferred a different option for closing the loophole by restricting access to high-capacity magazines.
“I advised the minister that she should put large-capacity magazines on an endorsed license.”
However, in the official advice to then-minister Bennett released to Q+A, there is no mention of high-capacity magazines.
Paula Bennett told Q+A this week she did not recall the loophole or restrictions on high-capacity magazine sales being brought up in conversation with Nicole McKee. The issue did not appear in her handwritten notes responding to the advisors’ comments.
McKee also provided feedback to the select committee in her capacity as a firearms safety specialist. Her submission did not refer to the loophole or restricting high-capacity magazine sales.
The only line Q+A could find in the official documents from that 2017 inquiry that could be interpreted as suggesting limits on magazines was in the Government response: “We are aware that experts in the firearms community have suggested alternative approaches. The Government remains open to hearing any such suggestions.”
It’s unclear if this relates to firearms, classification standards, magazine sales, or anything else.
‘I recall raising it at every possible opportunity’
When asked about the official advice released to Q+A, McKee said she was “certain” the issue was raised with the government at the time.
“I am certain this issue was raised with then-police minister Paula Bennett at the time of the inquiry. However, it was deemed to be outside the scope of the inquiry which was limited to the illegal possession of firearms.
“I recall raising it at every possible opportunity.”
It was McKee and her colleague who had advised Bennett that the select committee’s recommendation about the classification of semi-automatic firearms was out of scope for the original inquiry.
In the documents obtained by Q+A, the minister makes no such judgement. The select committee ultimately decided to include the loophole issue in its report.
At the time of the inquiry, McKee said she was also a member of the Firearms Community Advisory Forum, which “provides a formal channel for the firearms community to provide input to Police”.
McKee provided Q+A excerpts of minutes from forum meetings at the time which refer to restrictions on high-capacity magazines.
Only one of these meetings was held before she advised Paula Bennett on the select committee report, and the minutes do not recall who made the comments about high-capacity magazines.
…the certainty she spoke these claims vs the reality that there is no mention of her raising these concerns makes her evidence look as pitiful as Casey Costello’s ‘evidence’ to justify giving the Tobacco Industry $200million!
Put aside all the numerous other reasons she should be stood down (including the Police Association call for her to go because she is such a gun nut), lying straight to the face of a Journalist 3 times in a row in a live interview is surely a trust threshold worth fighting for?
What does Shane Jones, Chris Bishop, Simeon Brown, Nicole McKee and Casey Costello have to do to get sacked?
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Does the shambolic, blathering Luxon have the guts to tell Seymour what needs to be done?
Or will we just get:
“What I say to you is [indecipherable blather, burble] targets outcomes [indecipherable blather] hard working Kiwis [semi-indecipherable dumb cliche] ambitious… Thanks team.”
To answer your question.NO NO NO.
He hasn’t got the guts or the desire to crash his comfy little coalition that is doing his dirty work for him.
Yep
You’re Luxon’s speech-writer, aren’t you AB?. Admit it!
He needs incompetant ministers to try and make himself look good is my guess. His team are no better so 2 more years of them and hopefully the opposition can muster a credible alternative.
The country will be totally fucked by the end of their term.
Yep
the cartoon says it all about this dopey person.
It’s a frightening thought, but if she had actually given the advice she claim’s to have given, the Chrstichurch terrororist might have had to look for different weapons?
She’s the frightening thought,she’s the minister for guns,she’s the minister for gun clubs,she’s the minister that has given herself the power to alone decide what guns to bring back off the banned list and she’s the minister who failed to talk to the police union because she KNEW she wouldn’t be able to pass scrutiny pluswe all know ACT hates all workers and unions. She is working for the gun lobby not gun safety that’s why she wants rid of the gun register so that guns can be bought and sold without scrutiny.
Don’t expect Seymour to do anything, he is not a politician of integrity. Happy to attack the opposition for such things yet little actual self responsibility. To be fair though this is Nationals responsibility for the sordid deal they did in Epsom all those years ago . They both have Christchurch blood stains on their hands.
” What does Shane Jones, Chris Bishop, Simeon Brown, Nicole McKee and Casey Costello have to do to get sacked? ”
Renounce their greed and entitlement , corrupt practices , donor investment , stop enforcing austerity and dishonesty . go public and openly criticize the current leadership and their agenda and comply with the law and the OIA.
That would be a start.
Luxon will not touch any of Winston or Seymour’s ministers with a ten foot barge pole.
Its not in his DNA to be a leader who has any real authority. He takes his direction from the coalitions donors for their funding and written public policy that he and his colleagues endorse.
He will continue to get away with as much as he can until the Hobbits catch on and decide they do care about the direction of their country and don’t like the cash for policy and sleaze.
Be a tad to late as always by then.
Guns are to some people like The Ring is to Smeagol. ( Gollum.)
Meanwhile, good people must watch on as lunatics retain control of the madhouse by using the good of the good people to pretend to defend that and their best interests. Same old.
Guns are like flags. Anyone who wants one should never be allowed to have one.
There seems to be a long list of pathological liars in this coalition.
Although first past the post has its problems (UK Labour victory with no mandate) it’s better than putting up with ACT, the identity Greens, TPM and NZF. MMP makes us consider these fringe minority views none of which have much to recommend them. Long live the Centre and the Centre is National and Labour.
She’s a straight out proven liar…she has to go… and so should Seymour for picking her.
New Zealand simply cannot be having that behaviour in any way shape or form!
Seymour’s always telling everyone else that they have to be accountable for their actions….well…the chickens have now come home to roost… He gets to go!!
Speaking of chickens…where’s Luxon the Prime Minister on this???
If Nicole is so fast and lose with the truth, with probable memory lapses, and deceptive double talk, would she be a fit and proper person to have a firearms licence, let alone be put in charge of reviewing gun laws.
I mean, 2017 wasn’t that long ago, and she can no longer remember fact from fiction.
Saying she raised the issue of closing the large capcity magazine loophole at every opportunity, reminicent Walter Mitty in a lucid dream. Has she painted a target on Luxuries head while he was dozing, that’s only visble through her IR scope, per chance. Cut the CoC Atlas Back on Track claptrap crap, and just put Mitchell in charge of reviewing gun laws, before we all regret it!
Control of people who use guns surely needed.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/530038/manslaughter-charge-laid-against-father-of-child-who-allegedly-shot-hunter-john-atkins
The man was with his son, aged under 13, inland of Tolaga Bay on 26 August, when the boy allegedly fired a shot that hit John Atkins, 44, who had been hunting with friends.
The incident occurred about 10.40pm on Tauwhareparae Road, where the man and his son had been spotlighting with a .22 calibre rifle.
Atkins was flown to hospital in a critical condition, but died several hours later.
Atkins, a father-of-three, was born and raised in Tolaga Bay where he was known as a passionate hunter.
So much buying of MPs in Act and NZ1st. Says a lot.
Leaving aside this important point you raise, I hate italics. I can’t help myself wanting to jump over them, even though I learnt it before I was 8, as a jumping off point for joined-up writing. Like most people these days I never cottoned to joined-up writing.
So many books read but I still dislike italics instinctively for some reason.
Appropriately the colour she wears is crimson which reminds us all of Crimson Tide with its trigger happy captain.
Clearly there is no accountability for politicians in this government. We need an upper house in Parliament with laws that would expell all of the above-mentioned politicians for breaking the rules.
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