Lets see how many actually get turned in, I am willing to bet they get less than 10%.
Bravo for New Zealand's parliament. Some democracies can act to provide better safety for all, and that is most welcome encouragement and good news -- from afar. After Sandy Hook, next to nothing has been achieved in America, and that is very sad.
The Queen is not "technically" (whatever this means) the country's head of state; she is so as a matter of law. President Trump is "technically" the head of state of the United States? -- A silly expression. The Queen is sovereign of several countries, including Canada and New Zealand, and the role of governors-general is well understood, very likely by nearly all readers of the New York Times.
2
They punish all innocent law abiding citizens for one foreigner's crime. Brilliant.
1
@Les
Except that the citizens themselves do not consider it a punishment...
5
@Why Me
Who says that? Do gun owners in new Zealand universally accept the blame for the acts on one violent outsider? Even in America people can be fooled into making a false confession or assuming guilt where none was present.
I have been so impressed by Jacinda and her values that she stands for - to look after her citizens ! She should be the “Person of the Year” of Time Magazine and an example to the leaders of our country and others.
I love the fact that she blurred the face of that man and took his name off so that man doesn’t accomplish his goals which hopefully will deter copycats.
Most importantly- as a non-practicing Muslim woman I can tell you that her move to wear a scarf and respect the Muslims was the best move she made. She united her country and truly brought her country together!
I wish she could run for the Office of United States! She would win.
9
This is how sane countries operate.
9
It is refreshing indeed to see a Democratic nation not under the control of the NRA, gun merchants(good guy with a gun --really?), and special interests.
7
Great for them, we have a constitution that would not allow such a law.
2
America could learn something important from New Zealand. Guns do kill people, and many guns should be banned.
6
The less a society can regulate itself via violent means, the more civilized it is.
27
I admire Jacinda Ardern. more than any other political leader in the world
10
Thank you, New Zealand, for making the right choice after a gun slaughter. I truly wish America was culturally advanced enough to make the same choices, but it appears we are decades away from that. Hopefully I won't be gunned down by a "#2A" supporter for saying that.
9
Not culturally advanced enough? That sounds degrading, however its only politically correct when used against the USA since everyone deep down knows the USA is culturally advanced. It's like calling a smart person dumb, no one is going to get offended at such a statement, but calling a dumb person dumb would be considered mean and degrading. I'm proud of our culture, like other civilizations are of theirs, and don't want it eliminated like so many are trying to do. We need more immigrants who have a love for American values, and less who just want to use it. We are culturally advanced, thank you very much.
1
Congrats NZ. Amazing what you can do in a Democracy vs. a Lobbyocracy!
6
Poor New Zealand. Now all of its citizens who legally owned guns and did not use them to kill people have become criminals. They all are assuming the mantle of guilt for the acts of one person.
This represents an extremely effective agitation propaganda program. Jacinda Ardern has willingly cooperated with the agenda. It was pre-planned. The stage was set. She came to America to establish her credentials with liberals and liberal proponents of gun control well before this shooting incident. These New Zealand gun control laws dovetail perfectly with Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA) advocated by the UN. Their most recent meeting was in June of 2018.
1
@Aristotle Gluteus Maximus. As one who has lived in NZ and still frequently visits there, I can say with 100% assurance that your comment reflects a total lack of knowledge about New Zealand and its values. They don’t want their country to become like ours where we have lost our liberty to feel safe in public places, schools, and places of worship; where shooter drills in schools traumatize American children; and where angry white men feel the need to parade in clothing that mimics Special Forces and display semi-automatic weapons to intimidate others. New Zealand is the most peaceful, tolerant, and positive place in the world that I have encountered in my life. They have no problem with guns for hunting or for keeping farm pests at bay. They simply have the common sense to agree that military style weapons have no place in civilian hands.
25
@J.
The fact that it is a most peaceful place to live proves that the citizens can be trusted with the guns they have banned. The peaceful citizens of New Zealand had those guns all the while they were being peaceful and tolerant, and it was one, single outsider who committed the crime, not the entire civilian population.
I applaud the leaders of New Zealand for passing "a law banning most semiautomatic weapons." For the life of me, I never understood why such a weapon should or would be available to any civilian. If only America would wake up and follow suit.
65
@Marge Keller
Just because someone does not understand something does not convey the right to eliminate it.
3
@burbanite223 We don't allow civilians to stockpile bazookas, tanks, or weaponized gases. For good reason.
Weapons designed for mass destruction have no place in civilian hands. Even our Constitution only allowed guns in the hands of "well-regulated" militias.
Time we quit pretending there hasn't ALWAYS been a line drawn.
22
@Marge Keller
Read some American history about the second amendment. Go to a library.
1
The difference between New Zealand and the US is that NZ doesn’t have a large and politically powerful arms manufacturing industry.
Nor does it shy away from implementing common sense standards to benefit the greater public good in cases where the health and safety of the community needs to take precedence over the “rights” of the individual.
Going back to the first point, just think about why arms sales to civilians are important to arms manufacturers - is it because they help subsidize the low bids these manufacturers must submit for government contracts?
37
@Why Me
Another difference between New Zealand and the US is that New Zealand isn’t the most powerful nation the world has ever known, ultimately moderated by the rights retained by it’s citizenry, to include the 2nd Amendment.
4
@Ed
Doesn’t look much like anything is moderating the current administration. Instead, the Constitution appears to them to be not much more than a convenient tool to twist and use to whip up the base at opportune times, and to ignore at others.
7
@Ed You don't get it, man. There is a disconnect between logic and power. A small, vocal, politically influential faction of US citizens interpret the 2nd as a convenient defense to posses an arsenal of assault weapons. New Zealand has politicians who are making well informed, rational decisions that represent the majority of their citizens. In the USA, a majority of people believe such weapons are totally unnecessary and should be deemed illegal. Our politicians are weak, and cave under pressure from the NRA, which in itself is a sign of their inability to capably serve the public.
19
Awesome job by the lawmakers. They seem to be loyal to the country and its citizens.
43
Although this may seem like a big change in the law and one the US should take, it is the law already in place in New Zealand to severely restrict access to handguns; the large elephant in the room every single lawmaker in the US seems to not want to talk about.
Most gun deaths in the US come from handguns, and most of these are suicides, not homicides. The logical place to start would be on severely restricting access to handguns and implement similar rules, regulations, licensing, and liability insurance requirements that the US has for drivers and vehicles.
The US also needs to change the cost structure on firearms in general. Right now the profits are privatised and the costs are socialised. The best way to reverse the direction is to add a higher cost to gun ownership and ammunition.
21
@James Wallis Martin
You may wish to surrender your freedom to an authoritarian government, that is your affair.
Let those who still believe in freedom be.
1
@James Wallis Martin
AMEN on comparing gun laws to vehicle laws.
It's RIDICULOUS to me that people like this Jonathan Arthur responding to you will stand in line at the DMV to be licensed and regulated by the government and told what types of vehicles they can own and operate, but draw the line at their tools DESIGNED to kill.
Time we hold owners liable the way we do when their vehicle UNINTENTIONALLY kills or causes damage.
5
@Jonathan Arthur: I was born and raised in Christchurch and have now lived in the United States for about 20 years, so am in a good position to compare the two countries. To say that New Zealand has an authoritarian government is laughable. Go read all those international surveys that rank countries on measures of freedom and well-being: New Zealand runs rings around the United States. In the United States, your version of ‘’freedom’’ makes us more likely to be killed or injured by a gun or to be victimized by hateful, extremist groups, to give just two examples. That sure is a strange version of ‘’freedom.’’ Give me New Zealand’s version any day.
24
A sensible measure whose adoption has been long-delayed in the United States.
Semiautomatic firearms have no place among the civilian population. Join the military if you want more firepower— if they’ll take you.
6
Well overdue and a good start but not nearly far enough — guns are all designed to kill.
Grow up America and reign in your corporate lobbyists destroying your country and the world.
8
The so-called gun debate is more of a shouting match than anything else. There is little doubt that gun crimes go down when gun ownership goes down. But, according to the Washington Post, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Pew Research hiring more police officers appears to be similarly effective. It seems that there are two methods of reducing gun violence that are pretty much beyond debate, one of which is the subject of an endless shouting match while the other is ignored. You might conclude that people like to argue more than they want to solve the problem.
1
The choices are not equivalent. No guns = no gun-related slaughters. More police would not have prevented the vast majority of domestic terrorism and massacres. I, as probably one of hundreds of millions, do not relish the thought of living in an armed state. Simple solution with irrational zealots.
5
@michjas
Or, gun zealots like distracting from real problems that have proven solutions demonstrated time and again nearly everywhere on the planet.
Talking about distractions, are you going to pay for these extra police officers personally or are you counting on manna from heaven ? Don't count on Trump to fund them, he just cut taxes so you're not get any money from the Feds.
2
@Andy
Trump would say that Mexico will pay for them. Why not? He lies about everything else?
3
Can we have New Zealand lawmakers rule USA for 1 term please....They seem to be more honest and committed to their country than many in ours.
People its very simple to fix the issue in USA (in this order):
- Allow NRA executives and members to be sued for past slaughters.
- Dissolve NRA based on unethical and Russian related tactics uncovered so far.
- Seize all money that NRA has donated to campaigns
- Ban all semi-auto weapons & limit rounds in magazine to 5.
But who is loyal to the country to do this now a days? All want to just ignore what happened till it happens to one of theirs.
5
What a shame the pols in this country don't do the same.
4
Fastest way to bring change here:
1. Let NRA, its executives and members be sued by the gun victims
2. Increase gun & ammunition prices by 1000%
14
Your second alternative would simply massively increase the theft rate for otherwise “legal” firearms. Criminal oks don’t buy things - they steal them.
4
@jack dancer Those "solutions" have not gone into effect in Chicago. What's your idea Jack? You seem to know something? (But I doubt you have an helpful ideas at all.)
3
I wish the respective authorities in Pakistan and other Islamic states would take similar decisive actions to protect Hindus and other minorities in their countries.
3
@MP
There are enough gun problems in America for you to feel just a little humble about stirring the pot elsewhere.
Perhaps start by asking your own representatives to protect you and your own countrymen and women?
7
Thank you, Jacinda Ardern. I wish we had brave leaders like you here in the United States. Unfortunately, one of our political parties is under the control of the NRA so progress for us is much, much harder, if not impossible.
13
"Mr. Seymour, who argued that there was a risk of a growing black market in banned weapons."
This argument always perplexes me. Yes, if you ban something, there will be a black market for it.
Operating in a black market carries much higher risks and more difficulties than just selling a weapon to someone legally in a storefront. There are legal risks and personal safety risks, for both the buyer and the seller. These risks drive up the price of black marketed goods and keep only the more desperate in the black market. The black market cannot advertise, it cannot promote openly and it is built on the unstable reputation of the criminals that run it.
And if you think about often how fully automatic weapons, which are banned in the US, are used in murders, you can conclude that a black market for semi-automatic weapons might not be a bad thing.
9
@SXM
Fully automatic firearms are NOT banned in the US and the times one has been used in any murder is two, one of them by a policeman.
@burbanite223 True, they aren't banned, but you can't just buy one at Walmart or gun show. Instead you need to fill out a 12 page application, pay a $200 fee, get fingerprinted and wait 9 months to a year to be approved. Then good luck finding one for anywhere near the cost of an average AR-15. As of 2015, there were 175k of them that predated 1986 and another 300k post 1986. Heck, good luck finding one for sale - there are only 23 class 3 licensed dealers in CT out of the 1800 FFL holders in CT.
Your stat on murders is my point.
3
So New Zealand never had a mass killing in all the years those responsible, peaceful Kiwis owned semi-automatic firearms, and then an Australian murders some Muslims, the pundits blame an inanimate machine, the politicians ban it, throw in a few more odious free-speech crimes for good measure, and all declare self-righteous success. Why can't America shred its liberties as harmoniously and inconsequentially as those wonderful, peaceful, five million Kiwis?
4
@Ed, they had a mass killing before in 1990, but it was not enough - read the report again. And don't you know that Australia did the same kind of ban in 1996 and it worked beautifully to stop mass killings? So much so that this mad Australian had to go to New Zealand to perform his own mass killing.
14
Decades ago, Daniel P Moynihan was pressured by the gun lobby on gun control. He told them if they didn't back off he would introduce a bill in the Senate to add a 10,000% tax on ammunition. He didn't hear from them again.
7
I knew I would not be disappointed if I opened up the comments section. It amazes me how a gun worshipper can get be triggered by the mere prospect of regulation, even in a country halfway around the world and unable to come ‘git’ his or her firearms (they never have just one).
15
@David
Why do you refer to people as "gun worshippers"?
Do you know the reasons for our second amendment. I bet you don't. I bet you think it was to raise a standing army for the nation.
1
@David
You may have missed your classes on Civics, it was pretty interesting and gave a lot of information about how the nation and it's govt. works.
There United States has lost all credibility to call itself an "advanced" country.
It is time to more clearly and specifically define that wall behind which the NRA and all of the mass murderers hide - the Second Amendment.
An "advanced" country evolves with evolving needs. The narrow-minded irrational adherence to a Constitutional Amendment drafted in the 18th Century which has little validity today is a sign of mass ignorance and the stupidity thereof. The country has not evolved and is certainly no longer great, like it or not.
When we can be ethically shamed by a country the size of New Jersey it is time to reconsider OUR reality.
20
Well, I don’t think banning semi-automatic weapons will stop crazy people, but it will stop crazy people from getting their hands on semi-automatic weapons, and this is the best news I have ever heard for crazy people, and the innocents they harm!
12
That’s not true. Europe has such a ban and it hasn’t stopped mass murders from killing people with semi automatic rifles—Norway, France, etc.
3
@Sam
The US has a mass shooting involving semi automatic hand guns and rifles about every week. It's week 15 of 2019 so historically based on average the US will have had 15 mass shootings so far in 2019. A mass shooting is defined as 4 or more people.
Even if you're going to be that dishonest in full view of the entire world at least try to be honest with yourself : when was the last one you heard of a mass shooting in Europe?
I'll answer for you : not in 2019.
So zero mass shootings in Europe versus 15 mass shootings in the US.
Now I know that doesn't matter AT ALL to YOU, but I'm sure it makes a huge difference to the victims of those 15 mass shootings and their families.
Personally I know I appreciate not having to worry about walking around with a target on my back and worse, my sons' backs.
10
@Sam, have you checked all of what you are saying? All countries in Europe have this kind of ban? All of them experienced mass killings such as those you have in the USA?
1
Now is not the time for do-nothing leadership.
5
So what does this have to do with an America that has a Second Amendment individual right to keep and bear arms?
4
@Blackmamba
Can we please define arms? And are they certain it wasn’t “bare arms”?
3
@Blackmamba You perhaps haven't heard that there is a process specifically designed to change the Constitution. There was once an amendment, the 18th amendment, which prohibited the production and sale of alcoholic beverages resulting in the years known as Prohibition. Then the 21st amendment followed which repealed the 18th. The Constitution was designed to be changed as required. It is now possible and perhaps necessary to repeal the 2nd amendment, although I personally don't believe it's necessary as the 2nd amendment as written specifically pertains only to gun ownership as needed to maintain a "well-regulated" militia. I know of no guns owners who belong to a militia so hence they have no rights as they relate to the 2nd amendment. Any other questions?
13
The United States is totally ok with rampant legally-facilitated slaughter of its citizens because of one sentence that was written in 1787 and has been perversely reinterpreted over the last thirty. Saying “this life-saving action we refuse to take is not relevant to our experience because we were given The Sentence by our forefathers” is ~completely~ insane, you do realize that, right?
15
Well of course they could have just prayed. Americans seems to think that is a viable solution.
21
“...New Zealand passed a law banning most semiautomatic weapons on Wednesday...”
Interesting... does this mean that semiautomatic weapons are permitted the rest of the week?
(I believe that statement should be rephrased.)
6
Well New Zealand, congratulations - you have effectively been disarmed. You have allowed yourself to be victimized by the Problem, Reaction, Solution method of the disarmament of a free people the world controllers love to employ when they are tightening their control of a country. Now you can no longer defend yourselves against invasion or the tyranny of your government. Good luck with that, New Zealand.
Btw - Is your government still dropping poison pellets on you and your environment?
6
@Cheyenne Seller We in the United States are currently seeing the results of tyranny in our government, and the guns are having zero impact.
12
Swift action, with conscience and conviction. "A measure supported by all but one of Parliament’s 120 lawmakers." Protection of life trumps protection of gun rights.
17
While I cheer and revel in the speed and guts it took New Zealand’s lawmakers to pass “a law banning most semiautomatic weapons”, what the actions of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her cabinet really screamed for all the world to hear is preserving human life matters most above all else.
If only that basic premise was paramount and practiced in this country.
50
I can't imagine living in a country with a government that would respond in this positive way to a mass shooting. It is remarkable to know such a government exists. I find it amazing that a government would vote to protect its citizens, while in my own country the government does nothing.
26
Praise for the sensible gun laws passed in New Zealand. If only Americans had as much good sense to prevent gun attacks by its worst elements. If the vicious gun lobby had not bought our politicians and turned a blind eye to violence against innocents in their public places and places of worship, our benighted country could also stop the white nationalists and their terrorist ilk, using the same obvious steps to pass the same laws the most honourable Jacinda Ardern and her normal human lawmakers have passed.
16
This is a good example of elected officials voting their conscience and realizing the right thing to do for the better good of the country, as opposed to the US version, which is do whatever it takes to get re-elected. I long for the day we return to a government 'Of the people', not the lobbying firm with the most money.
35
@Mark
Our cultures might be different down here. There are more votes in gun control than in gun rights.
However I suspect that if everyone voted in the US there would be more votes for gun control as well.
7
If politicians can't find the guts nor their spine to pass a law which bans semiautomatic weapons (for civilian use), then price the ammunition through the roof so folks can't afford to buy it. That may not solve the problem today, but at least it could be a viable or plausible first step.
17
@Marge Keller Liability insurance based on the type and quantity of firearm, just like your automobiles, may be a better way to accomplish this.
8
@Mark
I agree completely. I just thought an astronomical price hike could make a dent, if even for a brief moment until issues like liability insurance and the banning of semiautomatic weapons (allow me to dream for even a second here) can be passed. I'm impatient. I think something must be done - NOW. Apologies for the rant.
11
My congratulations to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and to the people of New Zealand on passing this law banning automatic weapons. Their humanity and resolve are an exception in today's world. Gun-loving people exist in New Zealand too, but their love for guns is not greater than their responsibility towards fellow humans. The rationale is not what success this law banning semiautomatic weapons will achieve, but, did the people of New Zealand do everything in their power to make sure that necessary steps were taken in response to the tragedy?? I think they did. Kindness, responsibility, and empathy are the hallmarks of success, and we need policies to reflect that.
119
@Lesser_evil - My condolences to the citizens of New Zealand. For the crime of a foreigner, a million law abiding innocent citizens were punished.
1
Must be nice not to have any Republican Party members with red hands in the halls of justice. Maybe some day we too can have common sense gun safety laws...after a republican purge that is.
18
@J Clark
Democrats own guns too.
3
This is what representative democracy looks like.
Government leaders responding reasonably to a public safety threat by removing the poison from the stores, streets and town squares.
This is what can happen when you remove massive corporate and 0.1% corruption from the halls of government.
It can happen here, too, but you have to register and vote in record numbers for public safety candidates, not for Guns Over People candidates on the take from the National Terrorist Association.
68
@Socrates - Yes, we need to register and vote. We also need to call for clean, issue-centric competition among Democratic candidates in the primaries - and call for a halt to Sanders' staffer Sirota's attacks on other Democratic nominees - so that after the nomination we can unify behind the Democratic candidate for president and vote Trump out. No Matter Who, Vote Blue.
12
Both Australia and now New Zealand have down banned these semiautomatic weapons that need only be used by either police or the military. And guess what America, they still are able to live a normal life. A safe normal life. I feel sorry for this country that we have not learned how to grow and mature in a new light of hope. I totally blame the government especially the Congress. The blood of babies from Newtown are on Mitch McConnell hands along with anyone else who blocks the greater good for all of us.
74
@Bobbi Jo Kovacs - Guess what, I feel the safest in the USA, with 350 million mostly semi-automatic guns. Maybe you should give up on gun control and attack tobacco which is far more deadly than guns.
3
Wow! New Zealand voted to protect their Muslim citizens, yet America fails to do so for our 1st grade children at school. If Sandy Hook did not rally us. How bad are we?
37
The 2nd amendment was created to ensure a public militia could be called to action. If people in the US who want to keep all their weapons agree to be drafted into a citizen militia at a moments notice (but before being put into action must first complete basic training), they should then be allowed to keep their guns. But that's not realistic is it? That's why the US has a National Guard. Don't need the citizen guard anymore. Politicians on the left and the right in the US have no backbones and won't touch legislation that might threaten their ability to become lobbyists after completing their terms. Let's face it, New Zealand's just a better country.
30
@Skidaway I agree with you to a point, but , the second amendment was not created for a militia to be called to action, the second amendment was created in order for the people to be able to protect themselves in case they were subjugated by a tyrannical government. I agree with you as to the people shall be properly trained and they should have some sort of basic training and should be able to be called upon if needed, like people are summoned to jury duty, but they should not by any means be tied in to the government (i.e. the National Guard) because their purpose is to protect themselves and be able to protect their freedoms and property from said government.
1
@Felix BatistaThe Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
1
@Skidaway
And again, it has been ruled on more than one occasion by the Supreme Court what that actually means despite those that try to twist it.
This is basically a ban on everything except a two barrel shotgun or a revolver. Thank God for the second amendment!
9
Does NZ realize how lucky they are that they have no NRA or bribe taking politicians?
27
A lot of commentary is highlighting the Prime Minister or Parliament's swift action as what is different in New Zealand compared to the US.
I humbly disagree.
What is different is the New Zealand people.
"We the People" of the US are broken with only a veneer of civility and ethics. We have well and truly sold our souls when we can witness the events of Newtown and 7 years later we continue to hide behind the excuse of the 2nd Amendment.
We do not need to alter the Constitution, we need to interpret it in a manner that is actually consistent with a reverence for life and true liberty and a pursuit of true happiness.
If Sandy Hook did not cause that to happen, nothing will.
We are broken.
We should be ashamed.
I know I am.
69
@Paul Fisher
The difference is the some of us here in America still believe in property rights and individual freedom.
For all of this talk about the rise of "fascism," it seems to be the case that it's only those on the left who are trying to shut people up and take their property away without due process.
5
Let me say one thing Johnathan, as a fellow Ohioan.
Sandy Hook. Dead kindergarteners. Your rights end where a small child’s death begins.
Retired Marine
32
@Jonathan Arthur
Due process? A majority in Parliament agrees to pass a law, the law is signed by the countries head of state. The law is subject to challenge in the Country’s Supreme Court, but nobody does so. Then the government will buy back all those now-illegal weapons.
Sounds like due process to me.
14
Wouldn't it be great if President Trump had this kind of power; just thing of all the wonderful things he could get done.
8
Second Amendment? Words on a piece of paper.
The judicial, executive and legislative branches can do literally whatever they choose to do almost without regard to the letter and spirit of the constitution. It has been amply proven, time after time after time, yesterday and today over the centuries US history the constitution is little more than a historical document, a nostalgic notion.
When is a person not a person? Whether you're black or white yesterday or today, in Chicago or Guantanamo, when the powers that be choose you are not a person, you are as good as a piece of meat to be disposed at will.
And it's not the fiction written on a piece of paper, let alone a gun, that will save you from that reality.
7
This illustrates just how broken American government is. A culture that allows 1st grade kids to be slaughtered by automatic weapons and does nothing does not deserve to continue. Evan rats protect there young. Not Americans!
32
Nice to know there is still some sanity and regard for human life left somewhere in the world. Too bad America is not and will probably never be that place.
21
This action is the living embodiment of the following quote by John MacArthur Maguire, LL.B. Harvard 1911, Professor of Law 1923-57, Royal Professor of Law 1950-57.
"You are ready to aid in the shaping and application of those wise restraints that make men free."
14
And I bet that in twenty years, their rate of firearm fatalities goes way down, and I also bet that in twenty years ours will still be monstrously high.
Times change, we no longer culturally force men to wear hats and women to wear dresses and stay in the kitchen, but unfortunately the gun culture is unchanging. It worships itself and while it causes thousands of Americans to die, it points to the deaths as the reason to stockpile weapons.
Some of us are crazy.
Hugh
24
@Hugh MassengillI
There firearm death rate was almost non-existent to begin with. This was an anomaly.
This is more about left wing totalitarians exploiting a crisis.
6
One “anomaly” like this was enough for them. Apparently not for us.
Retired Marine
9
@Jonathan Arthur - No, it's about the will of the people of New Zealand being made into law. It's called representative democracy.
12
Is this law a ban on semiautomatic weapons or a ban on the sale of those weapons? Or perhaps a ban on the use of semiautomatic weapons. Your story says violators face 5 years in prison. What would it take to be in violation of the law? Ownership? Use? Or simply possession?
1
@Never Trumper
The article is quite clear.
Ownership is banned.
If you have one you need to turn it in as part of a buy-back program.
12
Well there you have it: no excuses, no endless debate, no disingenuous constitutional pleas. Everything seems impossible until someone else does it.
23
And in US news, Pittsburgh became the first major city in the US to ban semi-automatic weapons in public places, large capacity magazines, and to enact a red-flag law-- allowing seizure of guns from mentally disturbed owners. the NRA has already said it will challenge it. Tree of Life--- at least your local government is trying even if Washington is oblivious. Thank you New Zealand, for demonstrating what should be done here.
32
@Hazel
Thank you for that actual piece of news. The NYT assumes I want to read about the latest spiral cut ham as opposed to news that is important.
8
New Zealand does not have a constitution that has places access to guns as one of the pillars of it's foundations. If the US wants to see swift legislation on laws that can limit guns, then a repeal of the 2nd amendment must be the first step.
18
The major reason that NZ can pass a law like this is the fact that their citizens have faith in their government and politicians. Do we in the USA possess the same faith in our government and politicians? Of course not. One look at the antics in D.C. confirms that lunacy rules, not reason. Change that notion and you can change the gun laws. Not before.
20
"New Zealand stands apart" because its Prime Minister, its Parliament and its people have stood up to say NO to mass murder, NO to hatred and suspicion of "other", and NO to the gun marketing companies trolling the aftermath of every massacre (and even the comments to this piece) promoting paranoia to sell more guns.
If only we were brave enough to do the same.
58
@common sense advocate
Why isn't saying "no" way more easier than being passive and allowing gun lobbyists to pay and have their way across the board in this country?
I truly wish American politicians had the courage, the resolve and the sense of honor to at least ban all semiautomatic weapons. There is no reason why a civilian should has these in their possession. NONE.
9
My family and I emigrated to New Zealand from California in 1969. One of the best things we've ever done. Never looked back.
30
@Don Polly
As have my son and many other Americans.
1
@Don Polly: extraordinarily smart move. Not so easy to do any longer if at all. Congratulations and consider yourself very lucky to have escaped the insanity zone.
2
@Don Polly
Now I'm beginning to see the problem, too many immigrants with leftist ideas have infiltrated what was once a warrior nation.
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
10
@Mike We'll see how this turns out, won't we? The NRA predicts that there will be a rise in crime, no doubt. There wasn't a rise in crime in Australia. One thing you can't defend yourself against with a gun: scientific evidence. That was why the NRA choked off funding for it with the help of a compliant Congress. But the evidence will continue to mount, and the idea that rapid-fire, large-magazine weapons are somehow "essential to liberty" will someday seem quaint.
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What is essential? We live in society, and that requires all sorts of compromises. I can’t own a tank, bomb, fully automatic rifle. I can’t hit someone, steal their belongings, drive without passing a test (and getting a note from my doctor if I am over 70). There is no freedom if there is no safety; life and the pursuit of happiness are equal to liberty, This type of pseudo-philosophy is as bad as the insincere pablum of “thoughts and prayers”.
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@Mike True, but let's get real. Owning semiautomatic guns is not an "essential Liberty".
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How I wish we in the U.S. had this kind of leadership and collective resolve.
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I always knew New Zealand was special. I still keep a 1990s photo on my frig of Akaroa, the place where I dreamed of living. During that era I was in Dunedin for a science meeting after which we rented a car to sightsee. We brought the car back to the rental store apologizing for being late for the deadline. The owner simply asked if we enjoyed our visits. Absolutely yes. So that's what is important he said, no extra charge. Then he saw us walking out with our luggage and asked where we were going. To take a bus to the airport. Oh no, that's too long a walk, he declared. He closed his shop and drove us to the bus station, wishing us a pleasant trip back to Australia. New Zealand---my heart melts.
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This is the sane and humane response to terrible tragedy: when there is something that can be done to prevent another occurrence, to simply and swiftly do that.
People in Aotearoa understand very well that the good of many is more important than the pleasure or convenience of a few - everyone recognizes that, regardless of political leanings.
Unfortunately in the United States, collective need seems always to be trampled by individual 'rights.' And now we have an absurd parody of 'rights' that includes the stridently defended right to kill each other.
As much as I rejoice in the decisive action of the NZ government, I am sad for the stasis in my own.
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This is what happens when you don't have a gun lobby buying political decisions in your country.
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@Tell It Like It Is This is what happens when you don't have a Bill of Rights.
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@Steve Tell it like it is. This is what happens when people are heard by politicians.
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@Steve: The UK has a bill of rights which contains a clause very similar to the US 2nd A. Still, the UK has one of the strictest gun laws in the world today.
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Excellent outcome, this law. This is how you do it.
New Zealand shows a perfect example to the rest of the world.
Every country, the US in particular, should learn from it and follow its example !
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