New Zealand has introduced new laws that ban military style semi-automatic and assault rifles following the country’s worst mass shooting in history.
The changes require legislation, but the new laws are expected to be in place by April 11.
PM Jacinda Ardern announces gun law changes:
- Ban on military-style semi-autos
- Ban on assault rifles
- Ban on larger mags and modifications pic.twitter.com/4FHLAsV7Dm— henry cooke (@henrycooke) March 21, 2019
“On 15 March our history changed forever. Now, our laws will too. We are announcing action today on behalf of all New Zealanders to strengthen our gun laws and make our country a safer place,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“Cabinet agreed to overhaul the law when it met on Monday, 72 hours after the horrific terrorism act in Christchurch. Now, six days after this attack, we are announcing a ban on all military style semi-automatics (MSSA) and assault rifles in New Zealand.
A buyback program has also been created to urge gun owners to trade in banned weapons.
The move mirrors changes made immediately following Australia’s largest mass shooting in 1996 when 35 people were killed in Port Arthur.
In the wake of the reforms, mass shootings in Australia dropped to zero, gun suicides declined by an average of 4.8% per year, and gun-related homicides declined by an average of 5.5% per year.
New Zealand's changes exclude two general classes of firearms which are commonly used for hunting, pest control, stock management on farms, and duck shooting.
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