Figures released this week by Gun Control NZ show that a large and broad-based majority of New Zealanders, 71 percent in total, support the establishment of a gun registry.
Introduced in June this year, the registry has been strongly criticised by some gun owners. The Act Party, which polls show could be in government with National after October’s election, is promising to repeal most of the registry except for pistols and restricted weapons.
But the survey of 1081 adult New Zealanders by Horizon Research found that only 14 percent were opposed to a gun registry.
Interestingly there was majority support from voters across all the main parties, including 53 percent of those intending to vote Act, and almost two-thirds of the people who took part believed that a political party supporting the registry had stronger law and order policies.
Co-founder of Gun Control NZ Nik Green argues that registries discourage disreputable firearms owners from selling guns to organised crime groups, as they know the guns can be traced back to them.