Disgruntled firearm owners are set to descend on a New Zealand First convention in Christchurch.
They're hoping the party will advocate for them and push for the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines and Parts) Amendment Bill to crack down on criminals, not them.
According to Police Minister Stuart Nash, the Bill will "remove semi-automatic firearms from circulation and use by the general population in New Zealand by prohibiting semi-automatic firearms, magazines, and parts that can be used to assemble prohibited firearms".
Gathering organiser Sam Kircher says the majority of the firearms community isn't happy with the Bill.
"We're going to have a bit of a rally to show our support for NZ First and hope they will reciprocate in voting down this Bill that's going through."
Kircher says it will be a peaceful gathering, where they hope to speak with MPs.
NZ First MP Shane Jones made headlines earlier this week when his wife uploaded footage of him firing an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle - like the ones used in most mass-shootings - at an overseas gun range.
"If it is an AR-15 centre-fire rifle then the magazine looks, on the face of it, to be of high capacity," a spokesperson for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners told NZME.
"That would mean both the firearm and magazine would be prohibited and now banned in New Zealand."
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Kircher says the firearms community feels blamed and left out of the legislative process.
"Police will be given the right to access our properties... and inspect anything at what they call a reasonable time. It essentially gives us less rights than our neighbours who don't have firearms licences."
Kircher says the registration process will be expensive and ineffective, and criminals should be targeted instead.
"Our main message is we've had your back in the past - we'd like you to have our back. We are still here. We do care very much about our way of life and our culture."
The Government's gun buyback runs until December 20. So far nearly 30,000 firearms have been handed in, but no one's really sure just how many there are still out there. More than $56 million has been paid out to owners so far.
"If people haven’t handed in their banned firearms by the 20th December, they will get no money and will face up to five years in jail if we find them," Nash said earlier this week at the Police Association National Conference.
Newshub.
