WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s government on Thursday launched a multi-million dollar, six-month “buy-back” scheme to compensate owners of powerful but newly banned semi-automatic weapons. These weapons have been prohibited in the wake of deadly attacks on two mosques in the Southern city of Christchurch.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Minister of Police Stuart Nash said in a joint emailed statement that NZ$208 million ($135.97 million) had been set aside to compensate owners of the banned semi-automatic firearms up to 95% of the original cost. They would have until Dec. 20 to hand in their weapons.
Parliament have already passed the gun reform law – the first substantial changes to the country’s gun laws in decades – by a vote of 119 to 1 in April.
The decision by vote came less than a month after its worst-ever peacetime mass shooting in which 51 people were killed and dozens injured in attacks on two mosques in Christchurch. The new curbs bar the circulation and use of most semi-automatic firearms, parts that convert firearms into semi-automatic firearms, magazines over a certain capacity and some shotguns.
According to the Small Arms Survey, New Zealand is the country with the 17th highest rate of civilian firearm ownership in the world. With a population of just under 5 million, New Zealand is home to an estimated total of 1.5 million firearms. (Agencies)
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