An inquest into the Christchurch terror attack has revealed that a high trust model in the firearms licensing process deemed the attacker “fit and proper” to hold a firearms license. The attack, which took the lives of 51 individuals at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in March 2019, has brought attention to the process of obtaining firearms in New Zealand.
The arms officer responsible for approving the attacker’s firearms license application testified in the Coroner’s Court, highlighting the heavy reliance on a “high trust” model where applicants and their referees are trusted to provide accurate information. The attacker’s two referees, who held endorsements for pistols and military-style semi-automatics, were deemed credible and integral in the licensing process.
Despite being asked about any concerns for safety, the attacker’s response that he had no enemies did not raise any red flags during the vetting process. The arms officer expressed satisfaction in deeming him “fit and proper” to hold a firearms license.
However, the arms officer admitted to receiving no training or guidance on identifying individuals with extremist views. They mentioned that any signs of racism or extremism would have prompted further investigation, but believed that applicants would not admit to holding such views even if asked.
The workload of the arms officer was described as overwhelming, with a focus on processing firearms license applications within a 30-day timeframe. This rush led to a scaled-back version of the role currently undertaken by three individuals.
The second phase of the inquest, set to span three weeks with about 15 witnesses, aims to shed light on the process that allowed the attacker to obtain the firearms used in the tragic event. The attacker, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2020, pleaded guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, and terrorism.
RNZ has chosen not to disclose the attacker’s name.
