New Zealand’s Gun Control Laws

By: Lauren Marshall

After two shootings at New Zealand’s Christchurch mosques killing 50 people, New Zealand’s government introduced legislation that would effectively ban most semi-automatic firearms.[1] The amendment is called the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill and was introduced by New Zealand’s Police Minister Stuart Nash.[2] It only took days after the shooting for New Zealand to introduce the new bill.[3] Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vowed “every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack” would effectively be banned.[4] Unlike in America, this bill had support across party lines.[5] In fact, they voted 119-1.[6] Following in Australia’s path, the measure also included a buyback program where citizens could get money in exchange for the now outlawed guns.[7]

While some may feel that this bill with overwhelming support is strict, New Zealand already had much stricter gun laws than America prior to this bill.[8] For example, it requires a license to buy and own firearms, which only a few states in America have.[9] However, this bill was meant to bridge the gap between the “patchy” spots and impose the same license requirement for semiautomatic rifles and military-style weapons.[10] The article states that “Americans who are used to their government reacting to mass shootings with no more than “thoughts and prayers” may be surprised by New Zealand’s swift reaction,” however, the power of gun lobbying is distinctly American and make it more difficult in America.[11] Additionally, the fast changes in New Zealand are possible because of its parliamentary system.[12] It is much easier and quicker for the ruling coalition to turn ideas into reality.[13] As a result, it only took one mass shooting for New Zealand to change its gun laws.[14]

Although New Zealand was quick to change its gun laws, the country still has relatively high levels of gun ownership.[15] New Zealand’s gun laws prior to the mass shooting required a potential gun owner to first obtain a license.[16] Then, the individual would have to be vetted to check for a criminal record, a history of violence, drug and alcohol use, and relationships with potentially dangerous people.[17] The applicant must then go through a firearms safety course, all of this potentially taking months to get through.[18] Some types of guns require endorsements from police, extra storage and inspection requirements, and separate permits to purchase, such as handguns and semiautomatic rifles.[19] If a person is believed to no longer be fit to own a gun or poses a threat, their license may be revoked at any time.[20] Furthermore, their licenses have to be renewed every 10 years.[21]

The last time New Zealand changed their gun laws was in 2012 to clarify some rules in the 1992 gun reform law.[22] In 1992, New Zealand’s first massive gun reform law was put into place after a mass shooting.[23] Thus, it is understandable that the second major gun reform law is being put in place after another mass shooting in New Zealand. The changes will act as “the most sweeping changes” in decades.[24]

Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, explained that the mass shooting revealed weaknesses in the legislation that they had the power to fix.[25] She explained that they would “not be a responsible government if [they] didn’t address them.”[26] One of the most notable changes in the law is that it creates a registry to monitor and track every firearm legally held in New Zealand.[27] It will tighten the rules for gun dealers and individuals to get and keep firearms licenses and will require individuals to now renew their licenses every five years instead of every ten.[28]

Although this law had nearly a unanimous vote, it did receive some push back from the federal opposition National party and gun lobby groups because they claim that the new laws target law abiding firearm owners.[29]

The law also allowed for a buyback program, which was intended to allow gun owners to sell their firearms before the ban took effect without penalty.[30] This proved to be a popular program as more than 56,000 prohibited firearms had been collected, which was consistent with the authorities’ expectations.[31] In addition to weapons, about 188,000 prohibited parts were also turned in.[32] All of this totaled to about $100 million New Zealand dollars.[33]

Starting shortly after the buyback program and the legislation goes into effect, those who own banned weapons will face the risk of prosecution and jail time.[34] This could mean up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $20,000 New Zealand dollars, more than double the previous penalty.[35] Additionally, they would lose their firearms license.[36]

Ultimately, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern believes that owning a gun is a privilege, not a right, and “[t]hat means we need to do all we can to ensure that only honest, law-abiding citizens are able to obtain firearms licenses and use firearms.”[37]

 Picture Caption: In April, Mike McIlraith,acting superintendent of police, showed New Zealand lawmakers an AR-15-style rifle similar to one of the weapons used in the mosque shootings in Christchurch. Credit...Nick Perry/Associated Press

#Marshall #NewZealand #Gun #Control #Firearms

[1] Francesca Paris, New Zealand Introduces Gun Control Bill Expected to Become Law Within Weeks, NPR (Apr. 1, 2019, 9:29 AM), https://www.npr.org/2019/04/01/708679715/new-zealand-introduces-gun-reform-bill-expected-to-become-law-within-weeks.

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] German Lopez, New Zealand Parliament Votes 119-1 to Ban Assault Weapons, Vox (Apr. 10, 2019, 10:50 AM), https://www.vox.com/2019/4/10/18304415/new-zealand-gun-control-mosque-shootings-assault-weapons-ban.

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Id.

[11] Id.

[12] Id.

[13] Id.

[14] Id.

[15] Id.

[16] Id.

[17] Id.

[18] Id.

[19] Id.

[20] Id.

[21] Id.

[22] Id.

[23] Id.

[24] Id.

[25] Praveen Menon, New Zealand’s PM Ardern Acts to Tighten Gun Laws Furthers, Six Months After Attack, Reuters (Sept. 12, 2019, 11:49 PM), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-shooting/new-zealands-pm-ardern-acts-to-tighten-gun-laws-further-six-months-after-attack-idUSKCN1VY092.

[26] Id.

[27] Id.

[28] Id.

[29] Id.

[30] Karen Zraick, New Zealand Ban on Most Semiautomatic Weapons Takes Effect, NY Times (Dec. 20, 2019), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/world/australia/new-zealand-gun-ban.html.

[31] Id.

[32] Id.

[33] Id.

[34] Id.

[35] Bill Chappel, New Zealand Moves to Create Firearm Registry and Stiffen Penalties for Gun Crimes, NPR (Sept. 13, 2019, 8:59 am), https://www.npr.org/2019/09/13/760460922/new-zealand-moves-to-create-firearm-registry-and-stiffen-penalties-for-gun-crime.

[36] Zraick, supra note 30.

[37] Chappel, supra note 35.