"It's going to cost us a penny, but that's what has to be done now,'' Mr Peters said. People with military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) weapons and assault rifles have until the end of September to hand them over to police or face five years' jail. Police Minister Stuart Nash has issued a stern warning to gangs who have said they will keep their MSSAs: hand them in or face jail. The Mongrel Mob said at the weekend that it would not hand over MSSAs, but Mr Nash pointed to the new penalty of five years' jail for possession: "My advice to the gangs is, 'Hand your weapons back'.'' Other new offences for using MSSAs or shotguns with more than five rounds include:• Up to 10 years' jail for resisting arrest.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 01, 2019 15:32 UTC