Mongrel Mob says it is racist to ban them having guns

Stuff reports:

The gang representative was in Wellington to protest the Arms (Firearms Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill, a prospective law being pushed by the National Party.

The bill has not been supported by Labour but crossed an initial vote in the House with the support of NZ First in the previous Government.

If successful, the bill would enable police to place a firearms prohibition on a person if they are a gang member, or have committed a domestic violence or serious offence in the past 10 years. If a person subject to such an order was found with a firearm, they could be imprisoned for up to 14 years, depending on the type of gun.

Hutchinson said the bill was “racist in its intent”, and “impinges on the customary Māori rights” to gather food and meet as iwi, hapu or whānau – as such gatherings take place at homes of legitimate firearms owners.

I never knew that gathering with firearms was a customary right. Must have missed that section of the Treaty.