New Zealand mosque shooting: Cabinet backs gun laws change ‘in principle’, says Ardern
New Zealand’s cabinet has given its support to gun law changes “in principle” in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shooting, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Further details would be announced by the time cabinet meets again next Monday, she said. Ms Ardern had vowed in the immediate aftermath of Friday’s shooting, in which 50 people were killed, that “our gun laws will change”.
Speaking at a news conference, she said that cabinet’s backing “ultimately means that within 10 days of this horrific act of terrorism we will have announced reforms which will, I believe, make our community safer”.
Ms Ardern said an inquiry will look at the lead up to attack and what might have been done differently.
It comes as a Christchurch gun shop owner admitting selling weapons online to 28-year-old Brenton Tarrant, an Australian citizen who has been charged with murder over the attack.
1/11 Zakaria Bhuiyan
People gather hoping to find out information about Zakaria Bhuiyan who is still missing after the mosques shootings in Christchurch.
David Moir/AFP
2/11 Mucad Ibrahim
Three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim, the youngest known victim of the mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 March 2019.
Abdi Ibrahim via AP
3/11 Nadeem Rasheed
Nadeem Rasheed, brother of Pakistani Naeem Rashid who died alongside his son Talha Naeem, 21, who were killed in shooting at a Mosque in Christchurch, at their home town in Abbottabad,
EPA
4/11 Omar Nabi
Omar Nabi speaks to the media about losing his father Haji Daoud Nabi, 71, in the mosque attack
REUTERS
5/11 Ash Mohammed
Ash Mohammed, right, talks to a police officer about his father and two brothers who are missing near the Masjid Al Noor mosque
AP
6/11 Akhtar Khokhur
Akhtar Khokhur, 58, shows a picture of her missing husband Mehaboobbhai Khokhar, 65.
AP
7/11 Wasseim Alsati
A note is seen on a window of a door at the family home of Wasseim Alsati in Christchurch on 17 March 2019.
AFP/Getty Images
8/11 Haroon Mahmood
Relatives offer condolences to nephew (centre) of Haroon Mahmood, a Pakistani citizen who was killed in Christchurch mosque shootings.
AP
9/11 Farid Ahmed
Farid Ahmed (pictured) survived the Al Noor mosque shootings but his wife Husne was killed.
AFP/Getty Images
10/11 Syed Areeb Ahmed
A relative shows a picture of Syed Areeb Ahmed, a Pakistani citizen who was killed the Christchurch mosque shooting.
AP
11/11 Naeem Rashid
A relative looks at a picture on a mobile phone of Pakistani nationals Naeem Rashid and his son Talha Naeem (right) who died in the Christchurch shootings.
AFP/Getty Images
1/11 Zakaria Bhuiyan
People gather hoping to find out information about Zakaria Bhuiyan who is still missing after the mosques shootings in Christchurch.
David Moir/AFP
2/11 Mucad Ibrahim
Three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim, the youngest known victim of the mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 March 2019.
Abdi Ibrahim via AP
3/11 Nadeem Rasheed
Nadeem Rasheed, brother of Pakistani Naeem Rashid who died alongside his son Talha Naeem, 21, who were killed in shooting at a Mosque in Christchurch, at their home town in Abbottabad,
EPA
4/11 Omar Nabi
Omar Nabi speaks to the media about losing his father Haji Daoud Nabi, 71, in the mosque attack
REUTERS
5/11 Ash Mohammed
Ash Mohammed, right, talks to a police officer about his father and two brothers who are missing near the Masjid Al Noor mosque
AP
6/11 Akhtar Khokhur
Akhtar Khokhur, 58, shows a picture of her missing husband Mehaboobbhai Khokhar, 65.
AP
7/11 Wasseim Alsati
A note is seen on a window of a door at the family home of Wasseim Alsati in Christchurch on 17 March 2019.
AFP/Getty Images
8/11 Haroon Mahmood
Relatives offer condolences to nephew (centre) of Haroon Mahmood, a Pakistani citizen who was killed in Christchurch mosque shootings.
AP
9/11 Farid Ahmed
Farid Ahmed (pictured) survived the Al Noor mosque shootings but his wife Husne was killed.
AFP/Getty Images
10/11 Syed Areeb Ahmed
A relative shows a picture of Syed Areeb Ahmed, a Pakistani citizen who was killed the Christchurch mosque shooting.
AP
11/11 Naeem Rashid
A relative looks at a picture on a mobile phone of Pakistani nationals Naeem Rashid and his son Talha Naeem (right) who died in the Christchurch shootings.
AFP/Getty Images
At a news conference, Gun City owner David Tipple said the store sold four guns and ammunition to Mr Tarrant through a “police-verified online mail order process.”
The store “detected nothing extraordinary,” about the buyer, he said.
None of the guns sold to Mr Tarrant were military-style, semi-automatic weapons. Calling for gun laws to be tightened, New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said the mosque attacker used five guns, two of them semi-automatic, which were purchased with an ordinary gun license and modified.
It was not clear if any of the firearms Mr Tarrant purchased from Gun City were used in Friday’s shootings.
“My staff and I are dismayed and disgusted by what happened last Friday afternoon,” Mr Tipple said. “We cannot comprehend how such despicable actions could be carried out on those at prayer in a place of worship.”
Mr Tipple said he felt no responsibility for the tragedy and refused to say whether he believed gun ownership laws should change in New Zealand, insisting a debate over guns should be held at another time.
“This man wrote in his manifesto that the purpose of using a firearm was to divide us,” Mr Tipple said. “If we allow him to make changes in our ideology, in our behaviour, he’s won.”
His store has been criticised for leaving out a roadside advertising billboard that shows a parent helping children with rifle target practice in the wake of the shootings.
Mr Tarrant, an Australian citizen who lived in New Zealand, appeared in court on Saturday amid strict security, shackled and wearing all-white prison clothing.
He showed no emotion when the judge read one murder charge and said more charges would likely follow. The New Zealand Herald reported Monday that he had dismissed his appointed lawyer and plans to defend himself.
