NZ parliament passes bill to amend gun laws

WELLINGTOn - The parliament of New Zealand passed a bill to amend gun laws less than a month after terrorist attacks on two Christchurch mosques that martyred fifty people.

The bill to ban most semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles in the country was passed 119-1 on Wednesday and now awaiting royal ratification from the governor general before it becomes law.

“New Zealand stands apart in its widespread availability of weapons of such destructive nature and force,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Parliament on Wednesday.

The legislative measure also includes a buyback program, through which New Zealanders will be able to get rid of the now-outlawed weapons.

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The Prime Minister delivered an emotional speech during the session of the parliament saying, she struggles 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," Adren said.

“I could not fathom how weapons that could cause such destruction and large-scale death could be obtained legally in this country,” she wondered.

The legislation comes after two mosques in Christchurch were targeted by White Supremacist Brenton Tarrant leaving 50 Muslims died last month.

The Australian, branded as a terrorist, was only charged with one murder in his first appearance before the Christchurch District Court the day after the shootings, however, he is now facing 50 murder counts.

New Zealand’s Corrections Department announced last month that Tarrant was segregated from other prisoners and is being under supervision constantly, either directly by staff or via surveillance cameras.

It said he had no access to television, radio or newspapers and no visitors. He sacked a court-appointed lawyer after his first court appearance and so is likely to represent himself during the trial period.