It Only Took A Day
Kathryn Wood
Kathryn Wood
On March 15th in Christchurch, New Zealand, terror struck two local mosques during Friday services. Their attacker was greeted with welcoming kindness in the door of the first mosque, the man who greeted him was the first of 50 to die and 50 to be injured. The day after, it was announced that New Zealand will ban all types of semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles and that citizens will need a police license to purchase one. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said, she expected new legislation to be in place by April 11th, saying: "Our history changed forever. Now, our laws will too." Gun violence has always been a problem in the U.S., more so in the past 20 years than ever, but this article is not about how Americans deal with gun violence it is how New Zealanders quickly fixed their problem, 30 years after their first massacre, in one day after only the second tragic event that will scar their people forever.
A 28-year-old man named Brenton Tarrant has been taken into custody and charged with murder. In his first court appearance on Saturday morning, he flashed a white power sign: an upside-down “okay” gesture with his shackled hands. Two other people remain in custody as police try to determine their connection to, or possible involvement in, the attack. The police discovered an 87 page manifesto explaining his attacks and was filled to the brim with anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant ideas. The shooter targeted two mosques in Christchurch: the Al Noor Mosque, where 42 people were killed, and the Linwood Mosque, where seven people died. One person died in the hospital, according to police. Friday is the Muslim holy day, when many practicing Muslims attend worship services at mosques.
After the attack New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, spoke of the attacks and how gun laws will be changing in the very near future. She described the attack as “one of their darkest days” and addressed that extremist views will not be tolerated in New Zealand and should not be tolerated around the world. To speak for the victims and their loved ones, Ms. Ardern said, “Our thoughts and our prayers are with those who have been impacted today. Christchurch was the home of these victims. For many, this may not have been the place they were born. In fact, for many, New Zealand was their choice. The place they actively came to, and committed themselves to. The place they were raising their families, where they were part of communities who they loved and who loved them. It was a place that many came to for its safety. A place where they were free to practice their culture and their religion.” She has made it very clear that New Zealand is a place of acceptance and will stay that way and if someone does not agree then they do not have a place in New Zealand.
The gunman was found with five guns, two were semi automatic weapons, two shotguns, and there was a lever action firearm, which he has a gun license to possess. On behalf of the changing gun laws, there will now be a ban on all military-style semi-automatic firearms. The police are going to all current owners of MSSAs and the procedure to obtain these are as follows:1. Voluntarily surrender the firearm to police for safe disposal. 2. Complete an online form on the police website to arrange for the MSSA to be collected, while details are finalized for compensation under a buy back scheme. 2.Sell or gift the firearm to a person who has an E-Category licence and a “permit to procure” the weapon. Citizen all over have been complying to this new ban New Zealander, John Hart, owner of an AR-15 rifle, said, “Convenience does not outweigh the risk of misuse.”, and voluntarily gave up his firearm. The United states should start striving for this kind of behavior and Americans should hope this will happen in the near future, but for now New Zealand has possibly saved countless lives by restricting gun laws.
A 28-year-old man named Brenton Tarrant has been taken into custody and charged with murder. In his first court appearance on Saturday morning, he flashed a white power sign: an upside-down “okay” gesture with his shackled hands. Two other people remain in custody as police try to determine their connection to, or possible involvement in, the attack. The police discovered an 87 page manifesto explaining his attacks and was filled to the brim with anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant ideas. The shooter targeted two mosques in Christchurch: the Al Noor Mosque, where 42 people were killed, and the Linwood Mosque, where seven people died. One person died in the hospital, according to police. Friday is the Muslim holy day, when many practicing Muslims attend worship services at mosques.
After the attack New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, spoke of the attacks and how gun laws will be changing in the very near future. She described the attack as “one of their darkest days” and addressed that extremist views will not be tolerated in New Zealand and should not be tolerated around the world. To speak for the victims and their loved ones, Ms. Ardern said, “Our thoughts and our prayers are with those who have been impacted today. Christchurch was the home of these victims. For many, this may not have been the place they were born. In fact, for many, New Zealand was their choice. The place they actively came to, and committed themselves to. The place they were raising their families, where they were part of communities who they loved and who loved them. It was a place that many came to for its safety. A place where they were free to practice their culture and their religion.” She has made it very clear that New Zealand is a place of acceptance and will stay that way and if someone does not agree then they do not have a place in New Zealand.
The gunman was found with five guns, two were semi automatic weapons, two shotguns, and there was a lever action firearm, which he has a gun license to possess. On behalf of the changing gun laws, there will now be a ban on all military-style semi-automatic firearms. The police are going to all current owners of MSSAs and the procedure to obtain these are as follows:1. Voluntarily surrender the firearm to police for safe disposal. 2. Complete an online form on the police website to arrange for the MSSA to be collected, while details are finalized for compensation under a buy back scheme. 2.Sell or gift the firearm to a person who has an E-Category licence and a “permit to procure” the weapon. Citizen all over have been complying to this new ban New Zealander, John Hart, owner of an AR-15 rifle, said, “Convenience does not outweigh the risk of misuse.”, and voluntarily gave up his firearm. The United states should start striving for this kind of behavior and Americans should hope this will happen in the near future, but for now New Zealand has possibly saved countless lives by restricting gun laws.
