National Rifle Association in the US offers to help NZ gun owners

The world's largest gun lobby has offered its help and support to its New Zealand counterparts in the wake of Friday's mass shooting. 

The United States' National Rifle Association, NRA, has already been in contact. 

Nicole McKee from the New Zealand Council of Licenced Firearm Owners says it received messages of condolence from the NRA over the weekend. 

"The first point of correspondence has been about sharing the grief and acknowledging the terrorist attack."  

Mckee says it's not been given any advice on potential changes to our gun legislation. 

"There's been lots of offers of help which has been great, but until we understand and know what the Government intent is no one can help us with anything."   

The NRA is a massively influential lobby group, aimed at stopping the United States from introducing any restrictions on guns 

For decades they've single handily opposed almost all gun reform in the US, despite mass shootings happening on a regular basis. 

Even after the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012, where 28 people died, including 20 six and seven year olds, it doubled down, rejecting gun control. 

NRA chairman Wayne LaPierre doubled down on its pro-gun stance, rejecting any gun control and blaming violent video games instead. 

"Isn't fantasising about killing people as a way to get your kicks really the filthiest form of pornography." 

The NRA was influential in the aftermath of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. 

After that, Australia introduced sweeping gun reforms, but was fought the whole way. 

Jacinda Ardern though is not worried of that happening here. 

"We have our own culture in NZ we see our own needs and I think the response we have will be a New Zealand one." 

Banning semi-automatics is thought to be included in any new legislation.. 

Today the government said gun control reforms will be drafted before next week. 

Newshub