The Police Association has criticised the Government's decision to reject the majority of the law and order select committee's recommendations on gun control.
Police Minister Paula Bennett's decision to reject 12 recommendations, including provisions to require a firearms licence to possess ammunition and allow police inspections of the security of certain firearms, has put police officers and the public at risk, Police Association president Chris Cahill says.
Armed officers on the beat would become a necessity because of the Government's short-sighted decision.
''Inevitably, that's a likely consequence of the lack of controls on firearms,'' he said.
''We would much rather prefer we could get firearms out of the hands of criminals.''
The select committee made 20 recommendations earlier this year to reform gun laws and crack down on illegal firearms
and Mrs Bennett announced her decisions on them yesterday.
''After careful consideration, I've accepted seven, rejected 12 and recommended one proceed with changes,'' she said.
''We needed to strike the right balance between public safety and the rights of legal firearms owners. Although the report was well intended, I believe many of the recommendations would not decrease the flow of firearms to criminals and gangs but would unduly impact on legally licensed firearms users.''
Two other recommendations were added. One proposed the power to suspend licences while decisions on revocation were pending.
The other was a ministerial direction to the police to require consultation with the firearms community when considering changes to the Arms Act and its interpretation.
''Nobody wants firearms getting into the hands of violent gang members but we also don't want over-the-top rules and restrictions to be placed on hunters and shooters who manage their firearms responsibly,'' Mrs Bennett said.
Mr Cahill said the Government had bowed to the pressure of the gun lobby.
''We aren't trying to stop legitimate firearms owners from owning firearms or from going duck shooting - we aren't trying to stop that.
''But they are still the source of the majority of firearms that end up in the hands of criminals [through burglary and theft], and these regulations would have tightened that up.''
Last year, 23 pistols, thousands of rounds of ammunition, four military-style semi-automatic rifles and a shotgun were stolen from a Dunedin address. Members of Hells Angels and the Bandidos motorcycle gang were contacted in regards to buying those weapons.
Southern AOS commander Inspector Kelvin Lloyd also said it appeared, anecdotally, firearms thefts were rising.
Police figures showed the number of offenders facing prohibited weapons charges in the Southern district increased by 20% last year and seven rifles and two handguns were recovered during a police crackdown on drugs and organised crime earlier this year.
Mr Cahill said officers were reporting daily occurrences of crime involving firearms.
''Constantly, we are getting reports of firearms either used in the commission of an offence, found in the hands of criminals, or found in circumstances where they would have been used if they hadn't been seized,'' he said.
A greater emphasis needed to be placed on the safe and proper storage of firearms and ammunition.
''With the privilege of owning firearms, there has to come some responsibility,'' he said. ''It needs to be looked at as a public safety issue first and foremost.''
The Government would now assess policy based around the minister's recommendations before they went before Cabinet later this year.
