60,907 firearms removed as next stage gun control begins in New Zealand

The six-month firearms buyback and amnesty was officially over with around 60,907 prohibited firearms removed from circulation, said New Zealand Minister of Police Stuart Nash on Saturday.

The objective of gun buyback and amnesty was to make New Zealand a safer place. Assault rifles, high-capacity firearms and military style semi-automatics used in the Christchurch terror attack on March 15 were the focus in the gun buyback scheme, said Nash in a media release.

Government figure showed that around 60,907 prohibited firearms had been removed from circulation or were pending collection. More than 194,245 prohibited parts had been handed in, including items like high-capacity magazines and pistol grips which can be assembled into working firearms. 32,000 people had taken part in the buyback, with almost 100 million New Zealand dollars (66 million U.S. dollars) paid by the government in compensation.

"Gun register and tighter licensing system will be the next step for New Zealand government to control firearms," Nash said.

However, the efforts to remove unlawful firearms from circulation are to be continued as it is estimated by local firearms owners' council that 100,000 unlawful guns are not handed back.

"Police are now preparing to follow up firearms licence holders who are known to still hold prohibited guns. My strong advice to these people is to voluntarily surrender them or face risk of prosecution, loss of licence and firearms, and five years jail," Nash said.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)