New Zealand Bans Assault Weapons Following Christchurch Massacre
Written by SOURCE on March 21, 2019
Following the terrorist attack that took place at two separate mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, the country will ban the sale of assault rifles and semi-automatic guns. The announcement, which was made on Thursday, comes only six days after a gunman killed 50 people during Friday Prayer on March 15. It was the nation’s deadliest mass shooting.
“Today I am announcing that New Zealand will ban all military-style semi-automatic weapons. We will also ban all assault rifles,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Ardern continued: “We will ban all high-capacity magazines. We will ban all parts with the ability to convert semi-automatic or any other type of firearm into a military-style semi-automatic weapon. We will ban parts that cause a firearm to generate semi-automatic, automatic or close to automatic gunfire. In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country.”
“Every semi-automatic weapon used in the [Christchurch] terrorist attack will be banned in this country.”
New Zealand PM @JacindaArdern moves to ban all military style weapons, effective immediately https://t.co/KDsydPBHM4 pic.twitter.com/8z5rUwP5eR
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 21, 2019
The legislation is expected to be ready by April 11. Ardern also said that a buy-back scheme will be put into place for the newly banned weapons.
MORE: “My expectation is that the law will be in place by the end of the next two-week sitting session, which is by the 11th of April.”
New Zealand prime minister announces sweeping gun law changes: https://t.co/GsU5UqG8te pic.twitter.com/R4lZxazV4L
— ABC News (@ABC) March 21, 2019
