What the official record says
This Act is the Arms Act . This Act comes into force on a date or dates set by Order in Council. Any part of the Act that has not come into force 12 months after Royal assent comes into force then. An Order in Council made under this section is secondary legislation ( for publication requirements). The purposes of this Act are to— promote the safe possession and use of arms; and impose controls to prevent the possession and use of arms for criminal activity. The arms regulatory regime established by this Act to achieve the purposes specified in reflects the following principles: that the possession and use of arms is a privilege; and that anyone doing anything involving arms must act in the interests of personal and public safety.