• Tweeter

  • republish

Gun City, an over-the-counter weapons store, in Queenstown, New Zealand, where buyers can find weapons, hunting and camping items. ® Carrie Nooten / Radiofrance-RFI

This new law comes six months after the attack in Christchurch. A double attack on mosques left 51 dead. The new legislation is supposed to give access to weapons only to those deemed fit.

The March 15 massacre had upset New Zealand. A white supremacist opened fire in two mosques during Friday prayers. This Australian national had legally obtained his arsenal while living in New Zealand.

In this country, it is common to hold a weapon. There are 1.2 million for 5 million inhabitants. The government had already banned military-style semi-automatics like those used by the perpetrator of the massacre .

The new law provides for the creation of a register to identify the owners of weapons legally circulating in the country. The text increases prison sentences for those who supply weapons to people who do not have a permit, and more closely regulates importation and sale.

Extremism, violent crime and psychiatric history

Anyone who advocates extremism , has been convicted of a violent crime or has a psychiatric history, will now be denied the use of weapons by the police. " Owning a firearm is a privilege, not a right, " said Premier Jacinda Ardern. We must do all we can to ensure that only law-abiding citizens can use firearms. "

► Also to listen: New Zealand: Can gun control prevent mass killings?