New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on all “military-style semi-automatic weapons” and assault rifles, at a press conference on Thursday local time.“In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country,” Ardern said. The program will include a “buyback scheme” for banned weapons that officials estimate will cost between “$US100 million and $US200 million,” Ardern explained. The announcement comes less than a week after 50 people were killed in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on all “military-style semi-automatic weapons” and assault rifles, at a press conference on Thursday local time.“In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country,” Ardern said.
The announcement comes less than a week after a shooting at two mosques in Christchurch left 50 dead and more than 40 wounded.“Today I am announcing that New Zealand will ban all military-style semi-automatic weapons,” she continued during a press conference.“We will also ban all assault rifles. We will ban all high capacity magazines. We will ban all parts with the ability to convert semi-automatic or any other type of firearm into a military-style semi-automatic weapon. We will ban parts that cause a firearm to generate semi-automatic, automatic or close to automatic gunfire.”The new law would immediately ban the sale of the aforementioned guns, and it will be followed up with legislation to define the proposed “buyback scheme” for banned weapons and other gun law issues. Officials estimate the buyback will will cost between “$US100 million and $US200 million,” Ardern explained.“
Today, the Government has made immediate changes to classifications in the Arms Act which will mean some firearms are going to be reclassified as military-style semi-automatic firearms (MSSAs),” Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a press conference that followed Ardern’s on Thursday.“At 3 p.m. [local time] today, changes have been by an Order in Council under section 74A(c) of the Arms Act came into force adding two more groups of semi-automatics under the MSSA definition.”Semi-automatic .22 calibre rimfire firearms with a magazine which holds no more than ten rounds” and “semi-automatic and pump action shotguns with a non-detachable tubular magazine which holds no more than five rounds.
Semi-automatic firearms and shotguns “capable of being used with a detachable magazine, which holds more than five cartridges” are part of the ban. If citizens have the improper license to own a military-style semi-automatic weapon (MSSA), there will be a program to surrender their weapons to the police along with an online form and phone number to arrange for a surrender. There will be an amnesty period for people to hand over their weapons, Bush explained. During her press conference, Ardern said that gun owners had expressed support for changes to the country’s gun laws.“I absolutely believe there will be a common view amongst New Zealanders, those who use guns for legitimate purposes, and those who have never touched one, that the time for the mass and easy availability of these weapons must end,” she said. “And today they will.”