Just a short time after the Christchurch massacre, Jacinda Ardern seems to have amazingly concocted legislation banning just about every type of firearm in a matter of days:
“Police Minister Stuart Nash has introduced legislation changing firearms laws to improve public safety following the Christchurch terror attacks.
“Every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack will be banned,” Mr Nash says. “Owning a gun is a privilege not a right. Too many people have legal access to semi-automatic firearms which are capable of causing significant harm.”
“The attack exposed considerable weaknesses in our laws. The firearms, magazines and parts used by the terrorist were purchased lawfully and modified into MSSAs due to legal loopholes. Our priority is to enhance public safety and wellbeing by urgent changes to the law.
“It is important to reiterate the legislation introduced today is not directed at law-abiding firearms owners who have legitimate uses for their guns. Our actions are instead directed at making sure this never happens again,” Mr Nash says.
The Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines and Parts) Amendment Bill will:
- Ban semi-automatic weapons and military style semi-automatics (MSSAs)
- Ban parts, magazines and ammunition which can be used to assemble a prohibited firearm or convert a lower-powered firearm into a semi-automatic
- Ban pump action shotguns with more than a five shot capacity
- Ban semi-automatic shotguns with a capacity to hold a detachable magazine, or with an internal magazine capable of holding more than five cartridges
- Exempt some semi-automatic firearms, such as .22 calibres and shotguns, which have limited ammunition capacity
- Create tougher penalties and introduce new offences
- Create new definitions of prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, prohibited parts and prohibited ammunition
- Establish an amnesty for firearms owners who take steps to hand over unlawful weapons, parts, magazines and ammunition to Police by 30 September 2019”
Remember guys, it’s not directed at law abiding firearm owners but we’re banning most of your shit anyway. Everyone loves a good dose of Orwellian doublespeak.
“Are any semi-automatic firearms exempted from the changes?
- A small number of firearms owners have a legitimate use for weapons with a larger capacity. Semi-automatic firearms which are commonly used for hunting, pest control, stock management on farms, and duck shooting will not be affected. These are:
- Semi-automatic .22 calibre rimfire firearms with a magazine which holds no more than ten rounds
- Semi-automatic and pump action shotguns with a non-detachable tubular magazine which holds no more than five rounds
What about licensed owners who have a professional reason for having a semi-automatic or another prohibited firearm?
- There will be exemptions for specially licensed dealers, bona fide collectors, museum curators and firearms used during dramatic productions, as there are now. They must take steps to disable the weapon and follow other guidelines around security and safety.
- Authorised pest controllers governed by s.100 of the Biosecurity Act may be permitted by Police to own a semi-automatic
- There are exemptions for Police and Defence Force personnel.
- There is no exemption for international sporting competitions. Further advice is needed and it may be considered as part of the second Arms Amendment Bill which is likely later this year”
Not even 3-gun shooters are exempt. It also looks like suppressors are gone, which means the NZ Deerstalkers, who threw gun owners under the bus a week ago, are in for a rude shock. Hopefully, this serves as a wake-up call.
This ambiguous definition of firearm parts is also really concerning:
“2C Meaning of prohibited part
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, prohibited part means—
(a) a part of a prohibited firearm:
(b) a component that can be applied to enable, or take significant steps towards enabling, a firearm to be fired with, or near to, a semi-automatic or automatic action.”
This just further gives weight to the hypothesis that this legislation was drafted long ago and the current government were just waiting for an excuse to implement them. They’ve been trying for at least two years to get gun laws through and have been thwarted at each turn.
As we’ve stated before, Ardern has done a John Howard almost line for line.
This also should serve as a reminder and wake-up call to those with a healthy dose of Stockholm Syndrome Fuddism that there’s no such thing as “knee jerk” gun laws. They’re always there sitting in the background until they have an opportunity. They just have to make it look like an organic response to the public.
Give them nothing.
Good move Jacinda, you have just shifted tens of thousands of gun owners into the criminal category because you can be sure that, just like in Australia many of those guns are not going to be handed in.
It’s looking like another Mossad operation as with Port Arthur and the Seacape Cafe. Two attacks well orchestrated to deceive the public and take away our ability to remove an unscrupulous government
I agree with the statement that these “laws” were drafted a long time ago and they were waiting for an opportunity to get them into place. If it’s a law that benefits society and puts restrictions on politicians and their ability to fill their pockets with the money of taxpayers, it can take years to even obtain a draft copy.