Police say they need search powers to crack down on gang associates and their firearms. 

New proposed Firearm Prohibition Order laws would ban people committing lower level offences from holding a firearms licence, and allow warrantless police searches of suspects. 

The Justice Select Committee's asking the Government to soften some changes, concerned it would give police too much power. 

Police Association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking it's better than what they had. 

He says the law is toothless without any form of search powers. 

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