Highlights
Task:
I. Introduction
Public and private security agencies are institutions which have always been essential in society. There is little contention to the idea that both public and private security agencies are essential to the preservation of safety and good ordnance of society. However, recent world events have amplified the conversation as to the need of these agencies and their respective utility. In fact, now there seems to be little debate at the need for not only public security agencies but private ones too. In 2019 New Zealand was struck by a heinous terrorise event, namely that of the Christchurch Mosque shootings. This one terrible example serves as ample reminder of the necessity for public and private security; however, the reality is that it forms just one of an ever-growing number of events worldwide which continue to spotlight the necessity for security agencies. This report will look at the response to this event, and how it showcases adequately, the changes being made in a process of adaption, as an effort to fix the ever-evolving problem of domestic terrorism.
II. The Christchurch Mosque Shooting of 2019
Initial commentary in the wake of the attack on the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre, alleged the attack was targeted at New Zealand, among other reasons, because it was regarded as a safe place.1 The attack started at 1:41 pm, and police received the first call within a couple of minutes with police from the Armed Offenders Squad arriving at the mosque within 5 minutes of the attack’s first deadly barrage. Ultimately the perpetrator was apprehended at 1:59pm a mere 18 minutes from the attack’s deadly beginning. Prior to the 19th of March 2019, the 28-year-old Australian Male who would soon be known worldwide was not on any security agency list. Nor had he had any previous criminal or mental health issues which may have enabled public security agencies to single him out as potentially suspicious. Carrying both a semiautomatic rifle and shotgun, both covered in the inscriptions of racist words and white supremacists’ names, the gunman indiscriminately opened fire, in a calculated, well planned attack. Although being apprehended within 18 minutes, ultimately the devastating actions of the shooter claimed the lives of 51 innocent souls.
III. Legislation concerning significant firearm reform
In the aftermath of the Christchurch Mosque Shootings, New Zealand went through a serious reimagining of its position on gun control. New Zealand is rarely considered as a place which houses many guns; however, statistics show that as recently as 2017 New Zealand was home to an estimated 1.2 million firearms. That number does not immediately seem large until it is compared to its modest population of nearly 5 million peoples.2 Interestingly prior to the events of March 2019, New Zealand had what some considered quite soft and permissive stance on gun ownership, and a less than strict position on firearm registration.3 Among developed 1 Gavin Ellis & Denis Muller (2020) The proximity filter: the effect of distance on media coverage of the Christchurch mosque attacks, K?tuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 15:2, 332- 348, DOI: 10.1080/1177083X.2019.1705358 2 S. Every-Palmer, R. Cunningham, M. Jenkins & E. Bell (2020) The Christchurch mosque shooting, the media, and subsequent gun control reform in New Zealand: a descriptive analysis, Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2020.1770635. 3 Ibid. 2 nations firearm registration and gun ownership laws are largely ubiquitous, with New Zealand being considered an anomaly. Previous pledges within the New Zealand parliament to reform gun control failed, however, the Christchurch Mosque Shootings had a profound impact on the entire country. Within a week of the attack, the New Zealand government announced an outright ban4 on ‘military style semi-automatic’ firearms, combined with serious legislative restriction on firearms with large magazine capacities.5 Likewise a $168 million dollar comprehensive buy back scheme was pledged, to start taking guns out of the hands of citizens. 6 However, it’s important to note that legislative change around gun control and ownership has been a popular conversation which previously failed to gain traction.7 Further legislation was pencilled as recently as February 2020 which would provide for a registry to monitor and track every firearm legally held within New Zealand.8
IV. Privacy – Licensing The fallout from the Christchurch Mosque Shooting, has enabled the New Zealand parliament to enact strict rules around new licensing of firearms as well as new rigid renewal systems that have amended a previous need for only have to re-register every 10 years to now every 5. These new rules and amendments are not isolated, other changes will now facilitate security agencies to revoke licenses and remove guns from licensed holders if they are convicted of a serious violent crime or if they have previous convictions concerning drugs or firearms. These steps have been championed as largely positive, being considered as largely proactive and facilitate greater control and promote safety. The new legislative changes provide more mechanisms for health practitioners to raise concerns when licensed owners start to exhibit specific health concerns. This point on face value seems positive but some critics opine that this move to more strict licensing and reporting is an erosion of privacy, that where safety is the goal privacy is always of second importance. In fact, some have questioned how far registry will now go and that on some level it is a form of data collection. The cross over between privacy and censorship is unpredictable with some academics arguing with the erosion off privacy for the benefit of ‘safety’ having a possibility to cause more problems than it solves. 9
V. Security Agencies Public and Private in Australia and New Zealand
Policy changes within public security agencies in New Zealand were immediate and serious, with the police enacting new policies such as ‘Gun Safe’ and initiative which sought to provide a more comprehensive registration system to record when officers during their duties encountered firearms. Until the events of March 2019, New Zealand police officers while on duty did not actually carry firearms, in fact any firearms held by officers on duty were contained within their respective vehicles and could only be accessed with a supervisor’s permission. The reality and gravity of the Al Noor Mosque shooting triggered the implementation of a 6-month trial of Armed Response Teams (ARTs), a clear adaption and hardening of security provisions, 4 Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019. 5 Watkins, T. (2019, March 21). What is likely to change with gun law reform after Christchurch mosque shooting. 6 Ardern, J., & Nash, S. (2019f, March 21). New Zealand bans military style semi-automatics and assault rifles. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/ new-zealand-bans-military-style-semi-automatics-and-assault-rifles 7 Review of Firearms Control in New Zealand. Report of an Independent Inquiry commissioned by the Minister of Police [1997] NZAHGovRp 1. 8 Ibid. 9 Morrison, T., & Acton, L. Surveillance or Privacy? 3 New Zealand police during the trialling armed police patrols around ‘specific identified areas’.10 In the three months immediately after the Christchurch mass shooting, New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) received 455 reports of information pertaining to people with suspected racist, Nazi or white supremacist views and affiliation.11 Not only is reporting on the rise, but a Royal Commission was charged to investigate the potential faults of intelligence agencies in letting the events of March 2019 occur, and what if anything could have been done to avoid it.12 Another interest of the Commission would be to investigate whether disproportionate attention was paid to Muslim communities by New Zealand’s security services at the expense of an examination of white supremacist threats. It’s clear to see that the lasting effects from March 2019 will impact all aspects of security agencies around New Zealand.
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