Gun laws won't end NSW drive-bys: Scipione

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says he can't guarantee tough new laws to tackle gun crime in Sydney will stop drive-by shootings.

But he welcomed the measures, announced by Premier Barry O'Farrell on Monday, particularly moves to ensure licensed gun owners can only buy ammunition for weapons they are licensed to own.

Under the changes to be introduced into parliament this week, people who fire at a dwelling as part of organised criminal activity will face a maximum jail term of 16 years.

Anyone who directs the activities of a criminal enterprise could spend up to 15 years behind bars, while directing the activity of a criminal group will attract a maximum jail term of 10 years.

The legislation has been drawn up in response to requests from police, who are under pressure to solve a spate of drive-by shootings across Sydney in recent months.

But despite the tougher jail terms and changes to the Firearms Act, Mr Scipione said he could not guarantee police would be able to stamp out drive-by attacks.

"With the laws we have, with today's announcement, we'll go out there and we'll be doing all we can to stop this type of crime and bring these people before the courts," Mr Scipione told reporters in Sydney.

"The one thing I've said, and I've said constantly, (is) there is no way anyone can guarantee drive-by shootings will stop, there is no way that anyone can guarantee that gun crime will stop, whilst ever there are guns in the community."

Asked if he would like more laws to tackle the rise of gun crime in Sydney, Mr Scipione joked, "I'm the wrong person to ask."

"You never ask a police commissioner whether you need more laws because I'm always going to say yes," he said.

"I'm particularly pleased with the introduction of the ammunition laws. They are laws that we have been waiting for, for quite some time.

"I could never understand why if you owned a shotgun you could go and buy ammunition for a pistol. It's about to change and that's good."

Mr O'Farrell said the new laws would modernise and clarify consorting laws.

"This is about giving police the powers that they need to tackle this problem," he told reporters.

"I'm confident that it will assist police in getting the results that the public want."

The NSW Greens welcomed the tightening of laws to restrict the ownership and sale of ammunition but called on the government to back their bill restricting the number of guns a person can own.

"People should not be able to buy ammunition for guns they do not own - it is important to keep a close eye on both firearms and ammunition," Greens MP David Shoebridge said in a statement.

"Reducing the number of private arsenals will reduce the chance of these firearms falling into the wrong hands."

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson says the new laws are half-baked and inadequate, and should include powers to outlaw gangs.

Mr Robertson said he would introduce a private members bill on Tuesday to reinstate anti-bikie laws struck down by the High Court last year.

"Barry O'Farrell's announcement today doesn't go far enough - it's half-baked," Mr Robertson told reporters in Sydney.

"It doesn't give police the powers to outlaw criminal gangs.

"It doesn't provide additional resources to police to fight this gun crime, and it fails to provide the protections that the people of western and south-western Sydney deserve."