Hunting rifles (file photo) Photo: 123RF
The president of the National Rifle Association says firearms owners need to be involved in making legislation that affects them.
The National Party has released new policies on gun control and management, including a renewed focus on gang-violence and gun crime.
But association vice president Malcolm Dodson said licensed gun owners need to be part of the conversation when making new policy.
"The licensed firearms owners in this country are amongst the most law-abiding citizens now. So, no matter what draft rules we've had to deal with sort of being brought in, we'll always comply with because we want to keep our firearms," he said.
Dodson said having the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners as key voice in policy-making was a good idea.
The party also said it hoped to increase training and safety education.
It said to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, police would be given greater powers to search for illegal firearms and confiscate them from gangs and criminals.