Serious firearm offending in New Zealand - Issues for gun controls and public safety

Reducing or preventing the misuse of firearms (whether criminal, suicidal o r accidental) is central ro gun controls policy. In lune 1997 the New Zeala nd Government received the recommendations of the Review of Firearms Contro l, an independent inquiry commissioned by the Minister of Police and chaire d by Sir Thomas Thorp. The Review comprehensively examined several firearm- related issues, including the nature and extent of serious firearm offendin g in New Zealand. The research presented in this article was commissioned b y the Review. Based on a population of 709 offences for the 12 months endin g 30 June 1996, this study provides an analysis of serious firearm offendin g in New Zealand and discusses the implications of these findings for gun c ontrols policy.