It was inevitable that questions would be asked about our gun laws after the Bay of Plenty shootings and siege.
I don’t know how tightening firearm laws would prevent isolated incidents like this. It’s impossible to predict which individuals might make stupid decisions.
Perhaps it’s more important to seriously reconsider our cannabis laws.
Stuff: Kawerau siege: Is it time to look at our gun laws?
While the Kawerau siege ended peacefully, the alleged shooting of four police officers has raised the issue of whether cops need better access to firearms, as well as questions about New Zealand’s gun culture. Can anything be done to stop similar situations?
The last major change to police firearms access came in 2012, when police were given access to a lock-box of firearms in every frontline car.
The Kawerau siege is not an ideal example for those pushing for easier police access to guns: the police shot were not unwitting constables taken by surprise, but members of the elite Armed Offenders Squad, sporting extensive training and body armour which saved their lives.
Tellingly, the idea of police officers toting guns on their hips isn’t a vote-winner, either with politicians or ordinary Kiwis.
But is it a vote loser?
And should votes be the deciding factor?
Police Association president Greg O’Connor, a long-term supporter of greater police access to guns, says talking about the topic now would distract from the main issue – how criminals are getting guns in the first place
O’Connor says no police officers are surprised by the Kawerau shooting, coming on the back of a notable rise in firearms-related incidents which police have faced in recent years.”There have been so many near-misses, so many times police officers have been shot at…this time, four officers weren’t lucky.”
He says the real arms race is taking place between criminals, with police the “collateral damage”.
But is ‘criminals getting guns’ the issue in the Kawerau incident?
I think one of the biggest questions from this shooting is:
Another issue which the Kawerau siege raises is the country’s drug laws, and the dangers that police face in enforcing them.
In Napier, Christchurch and Kawerau, it was a cannabis search or operation which led to a violent outcome in each case.
The amount of resources involved in policing cannabis and the risks involved should be balanced against the risk of using the drug – which are relatively low. Illegality aside cannabis causes far fewer problems than alcohol.
The Kawerau incident is more failed cannabis policies (political and police). Firearms were a prominent factor but gun laws don’t seem to be the issue here.