Military-style semi-automatic firearms
Military-style semi-automatic firearms in New Zealand are those semi-automatic firearms known in the United States as "assault weapons". The phrase is often abbreviated as military-style semi-automatic (MSSA). A New Zealand firearms licence-holder requires an E Category endorsement on their licence before they can possess this type of firearm, and a police-issued permit to procure each firearm is required. Arriving at a clear definition and common understanding of which semi-automatic firearms have a military-style configuration has dominated debate about gun-control legislation in New Zealand since 1992 . The phrase was introduced as part of the 1992 amendment to the Arms Act that was intended to impose stricter controls on military style semi-automatic firearms following the 1990 Aramoana massacre where a lone gunman, who held a lifetime firearms licence, killed 13 people using several different firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle that he fired from the hip at police. Some semi-automatic firearms that have been sold in a sporting configuration, so that they can be possessed by a person holding a standard (A Category) firearms licence, without endorsements, can be converted to an MSSA simply by  adding or changing one part, such as a larger magazine or flash suppressor. If a person intends to convert an A Category firearm that they already possess, they need to obtain an E Category endorsement before making the conversion to their firearm, because merely having parts in the person's possession to make the conversion possible makes an A Category semi-automatic firearm an MSSA. Background. New Zealand introduced personal lifetime firearms licences in 1984 and, in the process, abandoned a complex and poorly understood process for registering rifles and shotguns that was often not complied with. The existing registers  were fragmented and inaccurate and as a result police did not know who owned firearms and could not find many of the guns that were registered. Existing registered gun owners were usually issued with a lifetime licence if they had previously behaved responsibly with their firearms. On 13 November 1990, Aramoana resident David Gray, after a verbal dispute with his next-door neighbour, went on a shooting rampage that resulted in the deaths of 14 people, including Gray himself, and gunshot injuries to another three people. Another person was injured taking cover. Gray, a firearms licence holder, possessed several firearms , including semi-automatic rifles. Before being apprehended, Gray ran from cover, shooting from the hip at police while daring them to kill him. Minister of Police, John Banks, hastily drafted legislation to amend the Arms Act, "to prevent another Aramoana massacre" by restricting the configuration, possession and use of semi-automatic weapons, requiring a firearms licence to have a photograph of the licence holder and reducing the term to 10 years with vetting of the licence holder upon relicensing. Definition. The definition of an MSSA is in the Arms Act, which together with the Arms Regulations, also specifies the controls  over possession and use of MSSAs. The Act is administered by the New Zealand Police. The legislated definition of the features of a "military style semi-automatic firearm" has evolved over time, along with how that legislation is interpreted by police, firearms dealers and firearms licence holders. The 2013 version of the Arms Code describes a "military style semi-automatic firearm" as any "self-loading" (i.e. semi-automatic) firearm, other than a pistol, with any of the following features: Requirements to possess. Possession or use of any MSSA requires a firearms licence with either a "C" or "E" endorsement. The  E endorsement allows MSSAs to be used with live ammunition; while the "C" endorsement is used by museum curators, collectors, film/TV/theatre armourers, etc. To be granted either endorsement, the applicant must demonstrate to police good cause for possessing MSSAs and the application must be supported by two referees who are current endorsement holders, serving members of a firearms-related organisation, bona fide collectors or persons able to demonstrate a genuine long-term interest in firearms. The applicant must also demonstrate a higher standard of security for the storage of weapons than is required for ordinary firearms. 2009 reinterpretation . On 2 July 2009, the New Zealand Police issued a memorandum advising that the police had reviewed the criteria for classifying weapons as MSSAs; and in particular the interpretation of the phrase 'military pattern free-standing pistol grip' used in the legislation. Under the new interpretation, many types of thumbhole stocks were now to be considered as pistol grips for the purposes of the Arms Act; any semi-automatic rifle with a grip having "either the appearance or function" of a military pattern free-standing pistol grip would be regarded by the police as an MSSA. Specifically, a semi-automatic  rifle would henceforth be considered an MSSA if it had any of: This reinterpretation had the effect of re-classifying as MSSAs many weapons previously considered to be sporting-configuration firearms, including the Heckler & Koch SL8 and USC, and the Dragunov sniper rifle. Transitional arrangements were made by the police to allow owners of such weapons to either register them, obtaining the necessary firearms endorsements if required, or dispose of them. The transitional period ended on 31 March 2010. The reinterpretation has met with resistance from some firearm owners. The National Shooters Association of NZ (formed largely as a result  of the reinterpretation) laid a complaint on 12 August 2009 with the Independent Police Conduct Authority regarding the advertising of the change. Proceedings had already been lodged by the Association's president Richard Lincoln at the High Court in Palmerston North on 29 June 2009, aiming to have the revised interpretation overturned. In a subsequent hearing for an injunction to protect the litigant, Justice McKenzie ruled that the police did not have the power to re-classify any firearm and that their opinion on the extended definition of pistol grips was "inconsequential" and that was a matter for the Court  to decide. He also stated that the Court would not be constrained by any other 'opinion'. On 1 March 2010 Justice Mallon released a Reserved Decision upon the Judicial Review, stating that a Military Pattern Free-Standing Pistol grip was not what the Police HQ said it was and that the litigant's H&K SL8 firearm did not have a Military Pattern Free-Standing Pistol Grip. Justice Mallon discussed the proper interpretation of the terms 'Military Pattern' and 'Free-Standing' in detail. The police have ceased advertising their opinion and removed reference to the "Check Your Stock" campaign from their  official website. 2012 amendments. The "Arms (Military Style Semi-automatic Firearms and Import Controls) Amendment Act 2012" aimed to clarify the MSSA definition in regards to Airsoft and Paintball guns, as well as magazine capacities. Amendment summary: Intended effect: 2019 ban. On the 15th of March, 2019, a far right white supremacist opened fire in two mosques in Christchurch, killing 51 people and 49 injured. The shooter legally-obtained semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. Following this attack, gun law reforms were announced almost immediately, and at 3pm on the 21st of March almost all semi-automatic rifles  were banned. All magazines over 10 rounds were banned, and in particular centerfire semi-automatic weapons were banned. Such guns must be confirmed by an act of parliament before 30 June 2020 or they will be revoked. A gun buyback has been offered.