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| New Zealand shooting: Jacinda Ardern bans all military-style semi-automatic guns and assault rifles – live updates | New Zealand shooting: Jacinda Ardern bans all military-style semi-automatic guns and assault rifles – live updates |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Meanwhile in Christchurch the funerals are continuing for those who were killed in Friday’s attacks. | |
| ‘These are reforms we can be proud of,’ says Police Association | |
| The Police Association congratulates the government for demonstrating the courage to take decisive action and ban the firearms that have inflicted so much harm in New Zealand. | |
| The Police Association has issued a statement congratulating the government “for demonstrating the courage to take decisive action and ban the firearms that have inflicted so much harm in New Zealand”. | |
| Association President Chris Cahill says the reforms represent a fine balance between the practical requirements of legitimate firearms users throughout the country, and the need to protect society. | |
| “I hope that the moves immediately attract cross party support because it is important for New Zealanders to know that their political leaders are all on board with this extremely important move,” Mr Cahill said. | |
| Today’s order-in-council immediately moves to Category E class, all Category A semi-automatics that are not shotguns or .22 rifles. | |
| “These are weapons that have been used to slaughter innocent children, women and men while they were at their most vulnerable – at prayer. It is a move we, as a community, can be proud of,” Mr Cahill said. | |
| The Association welcomed the pledge to pass, under urgency in parliament, law that will ban all Category E weapons, including all MSSAs. | |
| “These are significant and bold steps from the government and we applaud them for that. However, they are first steps, and the association looks forward to further reforms which need to follow shortly.” | |
| The next steps need to include a reconsideration of a firearms registry so we do know how many firearms are in our country, and we need a review of the Arms Act. | |
| “The act is dated and needs an overhaul sooner rather than later. Today we have the initial steps, but we should bear in mind that way back in 1997 the key recommendation of the Thorp report was for a full review of the act. We didn’t do it then, but we can make up for that by conducting a full review in the very near future,” Mr Cahill said. | |
| “Today is an extraordinary day that was brought about by dreadful events. This Government has acted swiftly and is sending a message nationally and internationally that the types of weapons and equipment used to enhance the capacity of those weapons to kill many people are not welcome here.” | |
| The Green Party is the next to welcome the government’s announcement on gun control changes. | |
| Green Party co-leader James Shaw said: “Banning military style semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles makes everyone safer. Banning these guns is the first step towards systemic changes to our gun laws. | |
| “I welcome this announcement today, we just wish it wasn’t in such tragic circumstances. | |
| “We owe it to the 50 people killed last Friday to ensure this never happens again.” | |
| Leader of the opposition Simon Bridges has released a statement welcoming the changes proposed by the government today to reform our firearms legislation. | Leader of the opposition Simon Bridges has released a statement welcoming the changes proposed by the government today to reform our firearms legislation. |
| “The terrorist attack in Christchurch last week has changed us as a nation. | “The terrorist attack in Christchurch last week has changed us as a nation. |
| “National has been clear since this devastating attack that we support changes to our regime and that we will work constructively with the Government. | “National has been clear since this devastating attack that we support changes to our regime and that we will work constructively with the Government. |
| “We agree that the public doesn’t need access to military style semi-automatic weapons. National supports them being banned along with assault rifles. | “We agree that the public doesn’t need access to military style semi-automatic weapons. National supports them being banned along with assault rifles. |
| “We also support the Government’s proposals to limit the access to other high powered semi-automatic weapons and ammunition. | “We also support the Government’s proposals to limit the access to other high powered semi-automatic weapons and ammunition. |
| “We remain committed to ensuring the safety of New Zealanders and fighting extremism in all forms. | “We remain committed to ensuring the safety of New Zealanders and fighting extremism in all forms. |
| “National will work constructively with the Government to ensure we get this right.” | “National will work constructively with the Government to ensure we get this right.” |
| And the press conference has wrapped up. | And the press conference has wrapped up. |
| Bush is now praising the police officers who brought the suspected gunman into custody. He says it took just 20 minutes for them to intervene and bring the man into custody, from when the attack started. | Bush is now praising the police officers who brought the suspected gunman into custody. He says it took just 20 minutes for them to intervene and bring the man into custody, from when the attack started. |
| That’s a new number for us, previously we were told it took more than 30 minutes for the arrest to occur, but Jacinda Ardern said yesterday that the time was even shorter than police had previously said. | That’s a new number for us, previously we were told it took more than 30 minutes for the arrest to occur, but Jacinda Ardern said yesterday that the time was even shorter than police had previously said. |
| “I can tell you that every available armed resource responded so quickly to that event and our people acted with absolute courage with in 20 minutes to intervene with that person and bring them into custody. | “I can tell you that every available armed resource responded so quickly to that event and our people acted with absolute courage with in 20 minutes to intervene with that person and bring them into custody. |
| “It was a very evolving, fast-moving event. That vehicle was identified by the two officers we know of and they acted with absolute courage, in fact, putting the safety of the public before their own to make that happen. I am hugely proud of what they did.” | “It was a very evolving, fast-moving event. That vehicle was identified by the two officers we know of and they acted with absolute courage, in fact, putting the safety of the public before their own to make that happen. I am hugely proud of what they did.” |
| “The first step is to encourage people to do it voluntarily,” said Bush. “I’m sure that the majority of people will do so. We will then be working with people to ascertain if they haven’t complied and once that period of grace or amnesty goes those people can, and in all likelihood will be prosecuted. So I encourage everyone in that situation so that you don’t become subject to prosecution, to contact us immediately or within the next few days at least.” | “The first step is to encourage people to do it voluntarily,” said Bush. “I’m sure that the majority of people will do so. We will then be working with people to ascertain if they haven’t complied and once that period of grace or amnesty goes those people can, and in all likelihood will be prosecuted. So I encourage everyone in that situation so that you don’t become subject to prosecution, to contact us immediately or within the next few days at least.” |
| Bush warns people that once the amnesty period of three weeks is over, people who are still in possession of their MSSA or assault rifle will be breaking the law and “in all likelihood will be prosecuted”. He warns people to take it seriously and to hand in their firearms. | Bush warns people that once the amnesty period of three weeks is over, people who are still in possession of their MSSA or assault rifle will be breaking the law and “in all likelihood will be prosecuted”. He warns people to take it seriously and to hand in their firearms. |
| Bush has been asked about when the two mosques will be able to be opened again. | Bush has been asked about when the two mosques will be able to be opened again. |
| “We as investigators are working very hard to release those mosques as early as today,” he says. “Not only have we completed our crime scene investigations, but we are working to restore them in a way that is absolutely respectful to those people.” | “We as investigators are working very hard to release those mosques as early as today,” he says. “Not only have we completed our crime scene investigations, but we are working to restore them in a way that is absolutely respectful to those people.” |
| Bush, once again, urges people not to simply walk into a police station with a firearm without calling ahead first. But again, he says police would prefer people to register their weapon online or via the phone line. | Bush, once again, urges people not to simply walk into a police station with a firearm without calling ahead first. But again, he says police would prefer people to register their weapon online or via the phone line. |