After the tragic mass shooting that occurred last week in Christchurch, New Zealand where a murderous shooter targeted two mosques, killing 50 people, the Prime Minister of the country, Jacinda Ardern, has informed the public that New Zealand is changing it's gun laws to ban military style semi automatic and assault weapons. The government will implement a "buy-back scheme" designated for banned weapons and it would cost them upwards as much as $138 million. New Zealand does not have a second amendment as we do here in the United States that protects the rights of it's citizens to keep and bear arms. This new ban leaves gun owners that have semi automatic, assault rifles, parts that can convert guns into MSSAs, and high capacity magazines, no choice but to turn over their possessions for a price from the government.
The only exception to this ban on military style semi automatic weapons, assault weapons, and accessories that convert guns into MSSAs, are farmers who will be given a strictly enforced exemption so that they can conduct pest control and animal welfare. Prime Minister Ardern said she believes most gun owning citizens in her country will understand this change is in the best interest of the country for public safety reasons: "I strongly believe that the vast majority of legitimate gun owners in New Zealand will understand that these moves are in the national interest, and will take these changes in their stride."
New Zealand certainly took a quick and sharp action on banning particular guns like MSSAs and those similar, after only a little less than two weeks after the mass shooting of two mosques. While I certainly understand what motivated New Zealand to ban guns, do the lawful gun owning citizens deserve a ban like this? There is an estimated 1.2-1.5 million firearms and 13,500 of them MSSA type weapons in the country with an overall population of roughly 5 million. As tragic and awful as the mass shooting was in New Zealand, I ask the question, should the sins of one man cause the punishment of the masses?
-Producer Lightning