Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said every type of gun used in the March 15 massacre will be banned.
NEW ZEALAND PRIME Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday announced that the country will ban all military-style semi-automatic firearms, as well as all assault rifles and high capacity magazines.
The ban comes after the deadly March 15 shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. A lone gunman killed 50 people and injured dozens more.
Ardern announced at a press conference that the government will also ban all mechanisms that allow firearms to convert into military-style semi-automatic guns and all parts that cause a firearm to generate semi-automatic, automatic or automatic-like gunfire.
“In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country,” Ardern said.
The gunman purchased all of his weapons legally and enhanced their capacity by using 30-round magazines.
Legislation to implement these changes is being drafted and will be introduced “under urgency.” Ardern said she expects the legislation will be in place by April 11. However, the government is implementing an interim policy as of Thursday at 3 p.m. local time that will reclassify some semi-automatic weapons as military-style and require that the purchase and ownership of the listed guns have an E-class endorsement. Most people in the country don’t have a license for that class of firearm. Moving forward, no one will be able to buy the firearms without a permit from the police.
“I can assure people that there is no point in applying for such a permit,” Ardern said.
The interim measure is to ensure that the trade of the weapons ceases immediately and that all gun sellers stop selling the guns.
The government will work through measures to implement exemptions for people who own the guns for hunting, but they will be tightly regulated.
As part of the legislation, New Zealand is implementing a gun buyback program for current owners of the banned guns. They will be able to hand in their guns to police for them to be destroyed and owners will be provided with “fair and reasonable compensation.”
According to New Zealand police, there are 1.2 to 1.5 million guns owned legally and illegally in the country.
“On 15 March our history changed forever. Now our laws will too,” Ardern said. “We are announcing action today on behalf of all New Zealanders to strengthen our gun laws and make our country a safer place.”