Here's how many guns were handed over in New Zealand's weapon ban

Police acting superintendent Mike McIlraith shows New Zealand lawmakers in Wellington on April 2, 2019, an AR-15 style rifle similar to one of the weapons a gunman used to slaughter 50 people at two mosques. New Zealand lawmakers on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of new gun control measures during the first stage of a bill they hope to rush into law by the end of next week.(AP Photo/Nick Perry)

A staggering 50,000 guns were handed over to authorities in New Zealand's buyback program following a ban on assault weapons, the Associated Press reports.

The government moved quickly to ban the most lethal semi-automatic weapons after 51 worshipers at two Christchurch mosques were killed by a single gunman on March 15. Police then launched the six-month-long program to buy the newly banned weapons.

Provisional estimates indicated that 33,000 people returned 51,000 guns, while another 5,000 guns were turned in as part of a parallel amnesty, where owners could hand over firearms without questions and without compensation.

(AP)