Christchurch mosque terror attacks: Gun owners voluntarily handed over semi-automatic rifles to police
Last updated on: 20 March,2019 11:51 pm
We don’t need these in our country, said the farmer.
(Web Desk) - A New Zealand farmer has voluntarily handed in his automatic firearm after the tragic killing of 50 people in two of the country’s mosques.
Following the news, prime minister Jacinda Ardern condemned it a “terror attack” and vowed to ban automatic weapons as soon as possible.
John Hart hadn’t needed a law change to hand in his weapon to the police to prevent it from being used to harm someone.
“I had had that gun since it was made," he told CNN. "I was glad it had never harmed a person. Now I can know that it never harmed a person, so I have some reassurance in that."
The 46-year-old has owned guns for over 20 years and lives on his 50-acre farm in Masterton. He tweeted about his decision, and reasoned that he had to “make sure it’s #NeverAgain’” in reference to the shooting."
"Until today I was one of the New Zealanders who owned a semi-automatic rifle," he wrote.
On the farm they are a useful tool in some circumstances, but my convenience doesn’t outweigh the risk of misuse.
We don’t need these in our country.
We have to make sure it’s #NeverAgain. He tweeted about his decision, and reasoned that he had to “make sure it’s #NeverAgain’” in reference to the shooting."
"Until today I was one of the New Zealanders who owned a semi-automatic rifle," he wrote.
On the farm they are a useful tool in some circumstances, but my convenience doesn’t outweigh the risk of misuse.
We don’t need these in our country.
We have to make sure it’s #NeverAgain.