What's being banned and how many guns are affected? A closer look at New Zealand's 'military-style' weapons ban after the mosque attacks.
FILE - In this file image made from video that was live-streamed Friday, March 15, 2019, a gunman reaches for guns in the back of his car before the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. Only a week after attacks on two mosques in New Zealand killed 50 worshippers, the country has banned sales of "military-style" semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines.
The suddenness of Thursday’s ban, which came as the dead were being buried, has raised many questions, especially for those not familiar with firearms.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that “every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack last Friday will be banned.” She said that includes “military-style” semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines.
Many different types of firearms, from pistols to rifles and shotguns, can be semi-automatic. Semi-automatic refers to a firearm’s ability to self-load, not only firing a bullet with each trigger pull, but also reloading and making the firearm capable of firing again.The ban does not include semi-automatic .22 caliber or smaller guns that hold up to 10 rounds or semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns with non-detachable magazines that hold up to five rounds.
New Zealand police said on their website that the “transitional period” would allow people to arrange to hand over their unlawful firearms to police without penalties. It encouraged people to fill out an online form and said after that police would be in touch to make arrangements. Sydney University gun policy expert Philip Alpers estimated that only 6 percent of all weapons in New Zealand were registered.
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