POLICE Minister Rene Hidding has not ruled out new laws to ensure that shooting clubs members' details are kept securely, after revelations that a list of names and addresses of gun owners had been shared among criminals. The list, which is under investigation by police, contains information about gun owners who were earmarked for burglary. Mr Hidding, who this week tabled sweeping gun reforms, said a lot of the information was publicly available. "The list has been carefully scrutinised, and many of the details were available from Facebook - somebody standing over a deer that they shot with their firearm, it's not smart," he told The Examiner. "I've been pleading with sporting shooting clubs, and they're starting to understand now that their security has just got to go to the next notch. "We don't believe our end is the problem. The sporting shooters, however, they accept that it's likely they've got an issue about security of their own information." Mr Hidding said he would look at toughening requirements if the clubs did not protect their members' information. "I shouldn't have to require that, but should it become necessary to protect the rest of the community, then we might have to have a conversation about mandating some rules," he said. "But for now, their attitude to me is very positive and helpful." The laws tabled this week include minimum three-month jail terms for people found to be in possession of stolen firearms. Mr Hidding said the mandatory sentencing component was vital to the changes. "It has to be mandatory sentencing," he said. "I certainly don't blame the courts. But I doubt that the courts are aware of the breadth of the issue, of the danger to the issue of ongoing firearm thefts."
POLICE Minister Rene Hidding has not ruled out new laws to ensure that shooting clubs members' details are kept securely, after revelations that a list of names and addresses of gun owners had been shared among criminals.
The list, which is under investigation by police, contains information about gun owners who were earmarked for burglary.
Mr Hidding, who this week tabled sweeping gun reforms, said a lot of the information was publicly available.
"The list has been carefully scrutinised, and many of the details were available from Facebook - somebody standing over a deer that they shot with their firearm, it's not smart," he told The Examiner.
"I've been pleading with sporting shooting clubs, and they're starting to understand now that their security has just got to go to the next notch.
"We don't believe our end is the problem. The sporting shooters, however, they accept that it's likely they've got an issue about security of their own information."
Mr Hidding said he would look at toughening requirements if the clubs did not protect their members' information.
"I shouldn't have to require that, but should it become necessary to protect the rest of the community, then we might have to have a conversation about mandating some rules," he said.
"But for now, their attitude to me is very positive and helpful."
The laws tabled this week include minimum three-month jail terms for people found to be in possession of stolen firearms.
Mr Hidding said the mandatory sentencing component was vital to the changes.
"It has to be mandatory sentencing," he said.
"I certainly don't blame the courts. But I doubt that the courts are aware of the breadth of the issue, of the danger to the issue of ongoing firearm thefts."
