New Zealand is stepping up gun control efforts following last week's shooting in Christchurch. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country will outlaw semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles. Fifty people were killed in the attacks at two mosques.
Ardern said the new legislation is expected to be in place by April 11th.
(Jacinda Ardern / New Zealand Prime Minister)
"I absolutely believe there will be a common view amongst New Zealanders — those who use guns for legitimate purposes and those who have never touched one — that the time for the mass and easy availability of these weapons must end."
The new gun laws will ban all military-style semi-automatics, or MSSAs, and assault rifles. High-capacity magazines and parts that could be used to convert standard guns into MSSAs will also be banned. The shooter is suspected of using five legally obtained guns, including semi-automatic rifles.
Police are asking assault rifle owners to hand in their weapons voluntarily during an amnesty period. .
Ardern said the new legislation is expected to be in place by April 11th.
(Jacinda Ardern / New Zealand Prime Minister)
"I absolutely believe there will be a common view amongst New Zealanders — those who use guns for legitimate purposes and those who have never touched one — that the time for the mass and easy availability of these weapons must end."
The new gun laws will ban all military-style semi-automatics, or MSSAs, and assault rifles. High-capacity magazines and parts that could be used to convert standard guns into MSSAs will also be banned. The shooter is suspected of using five legally obtained guns, including semi-automatic rifles.
Police are asking assault rifle owners to hand in their weapons voluntarily during an amnesty period. .
◆step up強化する to increase the amount of an activity or the speed of a process in order to improve a situation
◆outlaw法的に禁止する to completely stop something by making it illegal
◆assault rifle突撃銃
◆legitimate正当な fair or reasonable
◆magazine弾倉 the part of a gun that holds the bullets
◆hand in差し出す
◆voluntarily自発的に if you do something voluntarily, you do it willingly, without anyone telling you to do it
◆amnesty恩赦、執行停止期間 an official order by a government that allows a particular group of prisoners to go free a period of time when you can admit to doing something illegal without being punished
