(Dan Tri) – Many gun owners have volunteered to give up owning semi-automatic rifles after the massacre at two churches that left 50 people dead in Christchurch city.
People mourn the victims of the terrorist attack at Al Noor church in Christchurch, where 41 people were killed by gunmen (Photo: Reuters)
The Herald newspaper reported on March 18 that many New Zealanders took to social networks to publicly post information about giving up their guns.
John Hart, a farmer and Green Party member from the Wairarapa area, said he took the semi-automatic rifle to the police station today to give it up.
“I don’t want to own a rifle,” he said, adding that the process of giving up the gun is quite simple.
Mr Hart was assured that the gun would be destroyed in a tightly controlled process.
“To this day I am one of the few New Zealanders to own a semi-automatic gun.
Hart said he uses semi-automatic guns to help control animals on the farm, but now he can do this in other ways.
Mr. Hart is not the first person to decide to give up semi-automatic weapons after the recent shooting.
Mr. Hart posted the paper he declared when he returned the gun to the police for destruction (Photo: Herald)
“When my husband passed away, his guns were transferred to the family that possessed the necessary licenses.
A woman in the Hawke’s Bay area who gave up guns more than 10 years ago today also spoke to the media about her thoughts on her decision.
Ms. Brena Smith said she used to own a semi-automatic gun for animal control, mainly to shoot rabbits and mink.
`I think it’s time for big change in New Zealand,` she said.
Online trading site Trade Me in New Zealand also stopped selling semi-automatic weapons immediately after the Christchurch shooting.
New Zealand will amend gun ownership laws within 10 days
Prime Minister Ardern has pledged to amend gun ownership laws in New Zealand after recent attacks (Photo: Reuters)
In a related development, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today pledged to announce reform of gun ownership laws within 10 days, while also reviewing the activities of security units after the terrorist attack.
Prime Minister Ardern’s cabinet met today and made an important decision on changing gun ownership laws.
“As a cabinet, we are clear that last Friday’s terrorist attack was the worst act of terrorism in our country,” Ms. Ardern said.
According to Ms. Ardern, the shootings have shown loopholes in New Zealand’s gun ownership laws and these need to be changed.
Ms Ardern also confirmed a review into the actions of security agencies.
The review will also investigate gunman Tarrant’s travel and use of social networks.
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