New Zealanders hand over weapons after mosque killings
Dozens of New Zealanders have handed over their firearms in a gun buyback scheme aimed at ridding the country of semi-automatic weapons in the wake of the Christchurch mosque massacre. The first of more than 250 collections to be held nationwide took place on Saturday in Christchurch, where 51 Muslim worshippers were gunned down while praying less than four months ago. The government, with support from opposition parties, immediately rushed through legislation to tighten New Zealand 's gun laws. Weapon owners have until December 20 to hand in illegal guns under an amnesty agreement, after New Zealand banned most semi-automatic firearms, some pump-action shotguns, and certain large-capacity magazines in April. Police Minister Stuart Nash said the objective was to "remove the most dangerous weapons from circulation". $290,300 compensation With armed police monitoring the handover, 169 firearms owners handed in 224 weapons and 217 parts and accessories.