NSW Premier Mike Baird insists the country's firearm laws must not be watered down, as his deputy joins a push to ease import restrictions on a controversial shotgun.
Mr Baird has distanced himself from Deputy Premier Troy Grant's call to allow importation of a seven-shot version of the Adler A110 rapid-fire lever-action shotgun.
A five-shot version of the Turkish-made gun is already available under the country's least restrictive firearms category (A), but the seven-shot is banned.
Mr Grant wants both models classified under Category B so they can be imported by recreational shooters and primary producers intent on culling feral animals.
He plans to take the proposal to cabinet after developing it alongside federal Nationals colleagues.
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"Legal firearm owners need to stop being blamed for criminal activity involving illegal guns used by gangs and terrorists," Mr Grant said in a statement to AAP.
"Throw the book at criminals and anyone dealing in illegal firearms but get off the backs of hard-working decent farmers and sport and recreational shooters."
However, Mr Baird is wary of the move, insisting federal gun reforms introduced by John Howard after the Port Arthur massacre must not be watered down.
"I think the prime minister made it very clear yesterday - there can be no dilution of the Howard gun laws - and we totally and utterly support that," Mr Baird said.
"We haven't considered this issue. Cabinet will consider it, and obviously we'll have more to say once we've considered it."
For gun laws to change, all states must agree.
"But anyone that thinks that we want to dilute the Howard gun laws, well, we won't be doing that," Mr Baird said.
NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli, the NSW Nationals Deputy Leader, was reluctant to weigh in on the issue as he stood alongside the premier on Wednesday.
"I heard of some comments made but I haven't heard specifically what Mr Grant said," Mr Piccoli said.
The premier rejected suggestions Mr Grant was causing him unnecessary political headaches after speaking out publicly on the issue.
