New Zealand to Ban Military-Style Weapons After Christchurch Mosque Shootings

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern publically announced on Thursday, March 21 that the national government will ban military style gun weapons after the March 15 Christchurch Mosque Shootings that killed 50 people. Ardern said that the proposed legislation would be introduced in the parliament in the capital city of Wellington during the first week of April 2019.

Arden said that all military-style semi-automatic gun weapons and assault gun rifles will be outlawed. She also said that all citizens who have these particular types of weaponry guns which will be outlawed must start immediately fill out forms online and make arrangements to hand-in their weapons to local police nationwide. If they cannot access the online form, they are urged not to arrive unannounced at local police stations with these guns. Arden also promised the creation of a government buy-back program to pay these gun owners, which would cost between $100 million and $200 million, and that the guns will be destroyed. Arden also said that  high-capacity magazines and other parts used in the attack will also be banned.

This proposed gun control and safety policies are being compared to Australia’s implementation of strict gun regulation measures after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in the island state of Tasmania that killed 35 people. With Arden’s center-left Labor Party having a government majority with the progressive Green Party and populist New Zealand First party as coalition partners, these new proposals could pass.