Excerpts from an article in New Zealand's
Stuff:
The banning of a range of rifles will become law less than a month after the massacre that prompted the swift change.
In parliament on Wednesday night MPs of all political persuasions
overwhelmingly voted in favour of The Arms (Prohibited Firearms,
Magazines and parts) Amendment Bill after its crucial third reading.
The law, which needs Royal Assent, will become law by the end of the
week. It will mean there will be a ban on all semi-automatic and
military-style weapons, such as those used during the Christchurch
terrorist attack that killed 50 and injured dozens...
"There are good people in all of our communities who will find
themselves in possession of banned firearms, parts and magazines.
"This is because we are changing the law, not because these people have done anything wrong."..
She told the House the weapons used in the Christchurch terror attack were designed to kill. When she visited the hospital, not one victim had just one gunshot wound, she said.
"I struggle to recall any single gunshot wounds. In every case they
spoke of multiple injuries, multiple debilitating injuries that deemed
it impossible for them to recover in days, let alone weeks. They will
carry disabilities for a lifetime and that's before you consider the
psychological impact. We are here for them."
"I
could not fathom how weapons that could cause such
destruction and large scale death, could be obtained legally in this
country."
She also acknowledged the buyback scheme for compensation, which would be worked up over the next few weeks.
"We will operate fairly."
