Following the terrorist attack that took place at two separate mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, the country will ban the sale of assault rifles and semi-automatic guns. The announcement, which was made on Thursday, comes only six days after a gunman killed 50 people during Friday Prayer on March 15. It was the nation's deadliest mass shooting.
"Today I am announcing that New Zealand will ban all military-style semi-automatic weapons. We will also ban all assault rifles," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Ardern continued: "We will ban all high-capacity magazines. We will ban all parts with the ability to convert semi-automatic or any other type of firearm into a military-style semi-automatic weapon. We will ban parts that cause a firearm to generate semi-automatic, automatic or close to automatic gunfire. In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country."
The legislation is expected to be ready by April 11. Ardern also said that a buy-back program will be put into place for the newly banned weapons.