New Zealand politicians overwhelmingly approve gun restrictions
New Zealand politicians have voted overwhelmingly in favour of new gun restrictions during the first stage of a bill they hope to rush into law by the end of next week.
The bill would ban the types of weapons a gunman used to kill 50 people at two mosques last month.
The bill was backed by both liberals and conservatives, with only a single politicians from the 120 that sit in Parliament voting against it.
The vote was the first of three that politicians must pass before the bill becomes law.
The country’s police minister Stuart Nash said far too many people have access to dangerous guns and politicians were driven by the need to ensure public safety.
“We are also driven by the memory of 50 men, women and children who were taken from their loved ones on the 15th of March,” Mr Nash said.
“Their memory is our responsibility.
“We don’t ever want to see an attack like this in our country again.
“We are compelled to act quickly.”
Seemingly drawing a distinction with the US, where gun possession is constitutionally protected, Mr Nash said that, in New Zealand, gun ownership remains a privilege and not a right.
Conservative politician David Seymour voted against the bill, saying it was too rushed.
“Doing it in nine days before politicians go on their Easter break is starting to look more like political theatre than public safety,” he said.
But Mr Seymour was so busy explaining to reporters his reasons for opposing the bill that he missed a procedural vote in which he could have tried to slow its passage.
Many New Zealanders were shocked at the firepower the gunman was able to legally obtain and favour the legislative changes.
Some are opposed.
More than 14,000 have signed a petition filed in Parliament which says the law changes are “unjust” for law-abiding citizens and are being driven by emotions.
The bill would ban “military-style” semi-automatic guns and high-capacity magazines.
It would also ban semi-automatic shotguns that could be fitted with detachable magazines and pump-action shotguns that can hold more than five rounds.
The bill would not ban guns often used by farmers and hunters, including semi-automatic .22-calibre or smaller guns that hold up to 10 rounds, or shotguns that hold up to five rounds.