CATALYST

New Zealand to Ban Semi-Automatic Weapons After Christchurch Shooting

“Our gun laws will change,” New Zealand's prime minister said.

New Zealand's attorney general David Parker said the government would ban semi-automatic rifles, one day after the prime minister said that gun laws in the country would change. “There is a dimming of enlightenment in many parts of the world,” Parker said. “How can it be right for this atrocity to be filmed by the murderer using a go-pro and live-streamed across the world by social media companies? How can that be right? Who should be held accountable for that?” Parker's comments come after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's earlier promise that New Zealand's gun laws would change after shootings at a two mosques in Christchurch killed 50 people. Parker made the comments at a vigil for the victims. The crowd in attendance cheered loudly when Parker made the announcement, and warned of a global rise of extremism. Ardern stressed that “now is the time for change.”

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