Derek Cheng isn’t the sharpest crayon in the press gallery box, but he’s nailed this one: that Nicole McKee’s firearms law changes have a massive and intransigent problem in the shape of Mark Mitchell.
There’s a Mark Mitchell-shaped mountain standing between Nicole McKee and the changes she wants to make...
It’s not that the Police Minister and the Associate Justice Minister are adversaries on course for a duel at high noon. They’re actually mutually respectful Cabinet colleagues who are on the same page in terms of wanting to improve public safety.
It’s more that police oppose McKee’s wishes for firearms law reform, which includes greater access to military-style semi-automatic firearms (MSSAs) under strict criteria, and scrapping some of the firearms registry. And the Police Minister is such a staunch advocate for police that he isn’t likely to roll over so McKee can have her way.
Mitchell’s unwavering support for police borders on the unapologetically blind.
NZ Herald
