Gun laws under fire after siege

The violent deaths of Napier gunman Jan Molenaar and the police officer he shot, sparking a 50-hour siege, could lead to sweeping changes to gun laws.

Coroner David Crerar has recommended the Government review the Arms Act – including revisiting a suggested ban on military-style semi-automatics – as part of his findings into the deaths of Molenaar and Senior Constable Len Snee last May.

He levelled criticism at the community, saying it was "a matter of enduring regret" that people who knew Molenaar was dealing drugs, had unlicensed firearms and was likely to respond to police with violence, did not warn police.

He also recommended changes to police search procedures. However, he found there was little police could have done to prevent Molenaar shooting Mr Snee dead and injuring three others in a hail of bullets, before turning the gun on himself in his Chaucer Rd house on May 8, 2009.

"Any failures by police in respect of their actions were not causes of the death of Constable Snee but were incidental to it," the coroner said.

Molenaar's friend Len Holmwood, who was shot in the hip while trying to wrest a gun from Molenaar and still suffers nerve damage, said he did not believe anything the police could have done would have stopped the tragedy. "It shouldn't have happened. It was just a bloody waste, really."

Mr Snee's widow, Vicky, did not want to comment on the coroner's findings last night, other than: "Nothing I'm going to say will bring Leonard back."

Police said yesterday that they were already acting on the coroner's recommendations and would soon be suggesting Arms Act changes to Police Minister Judith Collins.

That included "careful consideration" of the 1997 Thorp Report, which recommended establishing a gun registry and banning all military-style semi-automatic weapons.

When police finally entered Molenaar's house, they found six pump-action or semi-automatic shotguns adapted to be held in one hand, three Ruger mini-14 semi-automatic rifles, and eight other guns.

Molenaar was a registered gun owner and collector, but failed to renew his licence in 2002 and his cache had gone unchecked.

Ms Collins said she expected police recommendations on the Arms Act within weeks but would not comment on what shape any changes might take.

Although the coroner's recommendations were directed at police, blame for the deaths was "rightly put where it should be, which is with Jan Molenaar", Ms Collins said.

Council of Licensed Firearms Owners spokesman Trevor Dyke said the Arms Act was "very robust" and reviewing it was a knee-jerk reaction.

"It's the fact that [Molenaar] handed in his licence and nobody checked to see if he still possessed firearms."

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said he was disappointed the coroner had focused on the Arms Act rather than considering whether arming police might have prevented the tragedy.

"It's a bit of a missed opportunity. To talk about the Arms Act is superfluous because many of the people we deal with, the firearms they have are illegal."

Molenaar's father, Paul, said he did not want to comment on the coroner's findings. "We just want to try to forget about it. We have all been through too much."

CORONER'S RECOMMENDATION

A review of the Arms Act, including revisiting the 1997 Thorp Report which recommended a government buyback and ban of military-style semi-automatic weapons and limiting handgun ownership. "At present the Arms Act is only complied with by honest people," coroner David Crerar said.

Quicker introduction of digital police radios. Officers had felt hesitant using an unsecure channel.

A review and simplification of police "general instructions". "No serving police officer can be expected to have instant recall to each, and every, GI."

An upgrade of procedures for police searches, including supervisors being aware of searches, adequate number of police, improved equipment and appropriate risk- assessment training, and police monitored in their use of personal protection equipment.

THE NAPIER SIEGE

Jan Molenaar fatally shot Senior Constable Len Snee and wounded fellow officers Grant Diver and Bruce Miller, as well as civilian Len Holmwood, in May 2009.

What began as a routine drugs search of Molenaar's Napier house turned into a 50-hour armed siege.

- © Fairfax NZ News