Jacinda Ardern unveils ban on all semiautomatic guns in New Zealand
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a ban on semi-automatic rifles and a massive gun buyback.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a ban on semi-automatic rifles and a massive gun buyback, in decisive moves designed to ensure the live-streamed killing of 50 people “never happens again”.
The initiative came as the nation buried more of the victims shot dead by Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant as they worshipped at two Christchurch mosques, and Muslim leaders prepared for prayer services today expected to draw thousands, marking a week since the killings.
The government will also ban assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and certain modification parts, Ms Ardern announced yesterday.
“In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country.
“Our actions, on behalf of all New Zealanders, are directed at making sure this never happens again … We are confident as a government that the vast majority of New Zealanders will support this change.”
An amnesty would be put in place for the weapons to be handed in. A buyback scheme is to be announced soon, at an estimated cost of $NZ100 million ($96.6m)to $NZ200m.
The government has implemented an immediate stop gap measure to keep the weapons from being sold and stockpiled while the new laws are undergoing urgent drafting, she said.
Next week, it will consider tightening licensing rules and ammunition restrictions.
Ms Ardern’s announcement came six days after the killings, when she vowed strong action on gun control and issued an impassioned promise that the hatred and racism that fuelled the massacre would be overcome by the resilience, tolerance and compassion of New Zealanders.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend services around the country today in a national show of unity, while the Muslim community in Christchurch prepared for traditional prayers on the Muslim holy day.
Ms Ardern has called for the nation to observe two minutes of silence today and said the call to prayer would be broadcast live by state-owned radio and television, in a show of support for the Muslim community.
New Zealand women were encouraged to wear headscarves as a gesture of solidarity with Muslims.
Forty-two people died when Tarrant, who is due to appear in court again next month on murder charges, sprayed bullets through the Al Noor mosque, before killing others at the Linwood mosque on the other side of the city.
At the Al Noor mosque, Imam Gamal Fouda said he was expecting 3000 to 4000 people at today’s prayer service, including many who had come from overseas.
He expected it would take place in Hagley Park, a city landmark across from his mosque and that members of the Linwood mosque would also attend.
“We are going to pray here on Friday,” he told the N ew Zealand Herald from behind the cordon opposite the mosque.
“We will never forsake it to please those people who actually attacked us.”
Dozens of New Zealanders, including some farmers who use rifles for culling, have voluntarily handed the weapons in to police.
There is currently no figure for how many of the weapons are in circulation, as New Zealand does not run a register for firearms.
But there are an estimated 1.5 million firearms in New Zealand — roughly one for every three citizens and more than double the rate in Australia.
With Agencies
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