Shooting at targets – and firing rockets into space – have the govt’s blessing but Putin is being further punished with sanctions
It depends on what you do with your armaments that determines the Government’s attitude.
Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine a year or so ago and shows no signs of withdrawing his troops or putting his missiles back in their holsters.
Our government expressed its disapproval from the outset by slapping sanctions on Russia and on selected Russian big-wigs. Bit by bit it has subsequently tightened the thumbscrews.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced a further tightening, saying:
“This latest round of sanctions targets actors involved in Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, Russia’s military-industrial complex, and Belarusian individuals and entities providing support to the invasion.”
Russia’s continued occupation of the plant threatens nuclear security and safety, he said.
“New Zealand again calls on Russia to cease its occupation of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant and immediately withdraw from Ukraine’s territory.”
The sanctioning of Belarusians represented a shared effort with our like minded international partners to condemn and hold accountable those supporting Russia’s illegal actions, Peters said.
“By joining with more than 35 other countries imposing sanctions on those supporting Russia’s aggression, we raise the costs involved for the Russian war machine.”
Since the Russia Sanctions Act entered into force in March 2022, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on more than 1,700 individuals and entities, along with a range of trade measures. These new sanctions target five individuals and six entities.
Members of shooting clubs and ranges – on the other hands – are regarded as thoroughly peaceable and trustworthy with a huge regard for gun safety.
They are being rewarded today with further news about the relaxing of the country’s gun laws.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee said “improving the way shooting clubs and ranges are regulated” will be the outcome of a Bill introduced today.
“Improving” is a matter of opinion, it’s fair to suggest.
But plainly the objective is to lighten the regulatory burden for club members.
Cabinet has agreed to a package of reforms to amend Part 6 of the Arms Act 1983
“… which will enable simple and effective regulation of pistol and non-pistol shooting clubs and ranges.”
McKee again drummed out her message about clubs and ranges playing an important public safety role:
“ As well as providing places for people to learn how to safely operate firearms they also act as the eyes and ears of the firearms community.”
McKee has needed little persuading from the gun lobby that the changes introduced in 2020
“… went beyond what was necessary to ensure public safety. They jeopardised the ability for clubs and ranges to provide a safe environment for New Zealanders to learn, practise, and compete, and placed some ranges at risk of closing”.
The Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges and Other Matters) Amendment Bill will:
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced a further tightening, saying:
“This latest round of sanctions targets actors involved in Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, Russia’s military-industrial complex, and Belarusian individuals and entities providing support to the invasion.”
Russia’s continued occupation of the plant threatens nuclear security and safety, he said.
“New Zealand again calls on Russia to cease its occupation of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant and immediately withdraw from Ukraine’s territory.”
The sanctioning of Belarusians represented a shared effort with our like minded international partners to condemn and hold accountable those supporting Russia’s illegal actions, Peters said.
“By joining with more than 35 other countries imposing sanctions on those supporting Russia’s aggression, we raise the costs involved for the Russian war machine.”
Since the Russia Sanctions Act entered into force in March 2022, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on more than 1,700 individuals and entities, along with a range of trade measures. These new sanctions target five individuals and six entities.
Members of shooting clubs and ranges – on the other hands – are regarded as thoroughly peaceable and trustworthy with a huge regard for gun safety.
They are being rewarded today with further news about the relaxing of the country’s gun laws.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee said “improving the way shooting clubs and ranges are regulated” will be the outcome of a Bill introduced today.
“Improving” is a matter of opinion, it’s fair to suggest.
But plainly the objective is to lighten the regulatory burden for club members.
Cabinet has agreed to a package of reforms to amend Part 6 of the Arms Act 1983
“… which will enable simple and effective regulation of pistol and non-pistol shooting clubs and ranges.”
McKee again drummed out her message about clubs and ranges playing an important public safety role:
“ As well as providing places for people to learn how to safely operate firearms they also act as the eyes and ears of the firearms community.”
McKee has needed little persuading from the gun lobby that the changes introduced in 2020
“… went beyond what was necessary to ensure public safety. They jeopardised the ability for clubs and ranges to provide a safe environment for New Zealanders to learn, practise, and compete, and placed some ranges at risk of closing”.
The Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges and Other Matters) Amendment Bill will:
- maintain the regulatory requirements for pistol clubs and ranges but streamline annual reporting requirements;
- simplify the regulatory requirements for non-pistol clubs and ranges by replacing the approval and certification systems with a more effective enrolment system;
- require non-pistol clubs to be incorporated only if they sell ammunition, unless all ammunition sold by the club is purchased for, and used, on the day of sale at the club range or event and is not taken off the premises;
- support the operation of temporary non-pistol ranges to enable the holding of club events, as long as the Firearms Safety Authority is informed; and
- provide certainty about when inspections for compliance can occur and clarify what can be removed when an inspection is conducted, to reduce the burden on operators.
Space Minister Judith Collins, a champion of firing things into space, had a chance to shine today, too.
She and Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the Government is introducing a light-touch regulatory approach “to advanced aviation” that (they contend) will significantly free up innovators to test their technology and ideas.
Novel aviation technologies, such as drones and uncrewed aircraft, are set to revolutionise aviation, as well as have global impacts on communications, emergency management and advancing science, Collins told the Aerospace Summit in Christchurch.
The government has committed to having a world-class regulatory environment by the end of 2025. To do that it is introducing a light-touch regulatory approach and will remove the requirement to go through the whole approvals process each time their technology is tweaked.
The Government is also establishing restricted airspaces where tests could be carried out -– known as a sandbox.
And Collins released the New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy, which outlines the ambitions for these interlinked sectors, and the actions to realise that ambition.
“The Government is focused on creating the right environment to unlock the significant economic growth offered by the high-tech, high-productivity aerospace sector,” Ms Collins says.
The New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy is available on the MBIE website: New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy 2024-2030 | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (mbie.govt.nz)
The announcements with various implications for Russia, gun clubs and the aerospace industry can be found among the media statements and speeches recorded on …
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