It Only Took 3 Days For New Zealand To Promise Comprehensive Gun Control Reform

By Lauren Rearick


Mere days soon after a terrorist attacked a pair of New Zealand mosques and killed at least 50 people, the country’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has announced that changes will be made to their gun control laws.


Speaking while in a press conference on Monday, March 18, Ardern addressed the events that had unfolded on Friday. According to The New York Times, the Prime Minister pledged that “there will be changes to our gun laws.” In extra reporting from NPR, the Prime Minister went on to confirm that any time it comes to suggested changes, “there are simply specifics to work through.”


Ardern’s promise comes because the nation keeps it up and continues to recover from an act of terrorism by a self-identified white nationalist, The New York Times reports. The attack was carried out in two separate mosques located in the city of Christchurch. At least 50 people were killed in the attack, and 50 more were wounded.


While in the press conference, Ardern shared that changes to New Zealand law would likely be coming this week, and would impact semi-automatic weapons, NPR reports. “I think what the public rightly are asking is why is it, and why is it, that you [are] currently able to purchase semi-automatic military fashion weapons in New Zealand," she mentioned. "And that's the correct question to ask."


Her comments come soon after New Zealand Attorney General David Parker told a vigil on Friday, March 15, that the nation would ban semi-automatic guns; according to Radio NZ, he later backtracked. “Those decisions have however to be taken yet the prime minister has signalled that we plan to look at that issue,” he said.


As announced by The New York Times, current gun buying laws in New Zealand require someone to pass a background check, which considers criminal, medical, domestic violence, and mental health history. From there on, applicants are needed to issue character references and complete and attend a gun safety course, and authorities interview a partner or next of kin and examined the applicant’s for genuine gun storage techniques. Soon after completing these steps, the nation will offer a license to carry and buy a firearm, although The New York Times reports that it may take “weeks or months” for the approval process to be completed.


Current New Zealand gun control laws are much more comprehensive than laws In the
U.S., Where the only requirement is the finalization of an instant background check, The New York Times reports. Some states including California and New York have enacted extra buying measures, including prohibiting the sale of guns to those with domestic violence convictions. Nationally, there are 68 recommended laws and resolutions awaiting some categorize kind of action in either the Home of Representatives or the Senate.


Any time news broke that New Zealand would take meaningful action towards further gun control, several people on social media contrasted that approach to the “thoughts and prayers” some American politicians often rely on to convey their seriousness about gun violence in lieu of policy, the Washington Post notes.


This latest attack marks a continued increase in the variety of violent attacks being carried out by white nationalists, NBC News reports. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security previously announced that attacks by white nationalists have risen to a 16-year high In America, although President Donald Trump seems unconcerned.


In a Friday press conference contained hours soon following the attack occurred in New Zealand, Trump denied there was an emerging threat from these hate groups, saying, “I don't really, I think it’s a little order of people.” In February, the Southern Poverty Law Center, previously confirmed that the variety of hate groups In the
U.S. Has continued to increase, rising to 1,020 in 2018.