News

New Zealand Parliament Votes To Ban Most Assault Weapons, 119-1

On Wednesday, New Zealand lawmakers almost unanimously voted in a favor of a gun reform bill less than a month after the country’s most devastating mass shooting incident. Passing through a 119-to-1 vote, it is now pending review from the governor general before it becomes law. If it does pass, it will mark the biggest change to New Zealand’s firearm laws in decades.

“New Zealand stands apart in its widespread availability of weapons of such destructive nature and force,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said to Parliament on Wednesday. “Today that anomaly ends.” As she was presenting the bill, Ardern said, “There have been very few occasions when I have seen parliament come together in this way, and I can’t imagine circumstances when it is more necessary.”

SLIDESHOW: TOP DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020 

Wednesday’s legislation will forbid the sale of most automatic and semiautomatic firearms. It also grants amnesty to those in possession of them up until Sept. 30, and a buyback program will allow citizens to sell back their guns. According to police minister Stuart Nash, over 300 guns have already been turned in.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

New Zealand banned the sale of all assault rifles and military style semi-automatics (MSSA) merely six days after the shooting. Ardern promises more revisions to her nation’s gun laws are forthcoming, focusing on elements like gun registration laws.

Notably, these measures have been compared to similar laws Australia enacted in 1996 following its deadliest mass shooting. The changes to Australia’s gun laws have correlated to fewer gun-related deaths. Notably, New Zealand and Australia both have stricter firearm laws than the United States (as do most developed nations), and the pull of the National Rifle Association in the U.S. makes it unlikely that will change.

Matt Reisine

A writer for uPolitics with an array of interests.

Recent Posts

VIDEO: Transgender Activist Confronts GOP Rep. Nancy Mace At D.C. Summit

A prominent transgender-rights activist disrupted a talk involving Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) in Washington,…

2 days ago

Biden’s Historic Climate Policies Are Poised To Be Undone By Trump

After President-elect Donald Trump's victory, experts have expressed serious doubts about the future of the Biden…

2 days ago

VIDEO: Trump Watches SpaceX Launch Alongside Elon Musk & Ted Cruz

https://youtube.com/shorts/YVrfbMZSVRE?feature=share US President-elect Donald Trump drew cheers as he arrived in Texas on Nov. 19 to watch…

5 days ago

Foreign Policy Experts Voice Concern About Trump’s Nomination Of Tulsi Gabbard For Director Of National Intelligence

After President-elect Donald Trump selected Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, as his nominee for…

6 days ago

Trump’s Pick Of Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Alarms Scientific Community

President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be his pick for Department…

1 week ago

VIDEO: President-Elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk & Cabinet Picks Attend UFC Fight In NYC, Crowd Chants “USA”

https://youtube.com/shorts/6CUvTmS87UM?feature=share President-elect Donald Trump arrived to cheers at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in…

1 week ago