枪击事件后续 新西兰将禁售军事用途类武器

New Zealand Bans 'Military-Style Weapons after Christchurch Attack

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday announced a ban of “military-style semi-automatic” weapons. The ban comes just six days after the mass shootings at two Islamic religious centers in the city of Christchurch. Fifty people died in the attacks.

Ardern said New Zealanders could turn in their guns while officials develop a buyback program. The program could cost the government as much as $140 million.

The ban includes all semi-automatic weapons and shotguns that can be used with removable magazines that hold more than five rounds of bullets.

Ardern said the man charged in the mosque¹ attacks used 30-round magazines that he bought “easily through a simple online purchase.”

The prime minister added, “Every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist² attack on Friday will be banned.”

The ban does not include smaller guns or shotguns with non-removable magazines, which are commonly used among farmers and hunters in New Zealand. There are nearly 250,000 licensed⁴ gun owners in New Zealand, a country of 5 million people.

Police and military members will not be affected⁵ by the ban. Access to such weapons for use during international shooting competitions would be considered.

After Ardern’s announcement, one of New Zealand’s largest gun sellers, Hunting & Fishing New Zealand, repeated its support of “any government measure to permanently⁶ ban such weapons.”

Its chief executive⁷, Darren Jacobs, said in a statement, “Last week’s events have forced a reconsideration that has led us to believe such weapons of war have no place in our business — or our country.”

Even without the ban, Jacobs said the company would no longer sell any assault-style weapons of any kind. The company also plans to stop selling weapons online.

Polly Collins of Christchurch praised the quick action from the prime minister. She told the Associated Press, “It’s not like in America, where they have all these things and then they go ‘Oh yeah, we’ll deal with the gun laws,’ and nothing’s done.”

Last March, Americans turned out in large numbers to demand stronger gun control measures after the shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead. The call for gun control was similar to others that happened after every mass shooting in the United States.

Gun-rights supporters in America note that gun ownership is protected under the Second Amendment⁸ of the U.S. Constitution.

Around the world, some countries have taken measures to limit the sale of guns after deadly incidents.

Australia

After 35 people were killed in a mass shooting in Australia’s Tasmania in 1996, the federal government passed a law banning all automatic and semiautomatic weapons.

The government also spent hundreds of millions of dollars to buy back more than 650,000 weapons. Some experts have credited the measures for reduced gun deaths and violence in that country.

Japan

Japan has some of the strictest gun laws and among the lowest homicide rates in the world. Japanese laws only permit shotguns and air rifles. Weapons are also permitted for research and use in competitions.

If someone in Japan wants to own a gun, they must attend a class and pass a written exam and shooting test. They also must pass a mental health examination and a background check. The gun owners must then repeat that process every three years.

Norway

The Small Arms Survey reports that Norway has a high rate of gun ownership but a low rate of homicide. Norwegian police do not carry weapons.

Gun control was not a major issue in Norway until the 2011 mass shooting at a summer camp that killed 77 people. After the shooting, an independent group proposed tighter gun laws. However, no changes were made.

Britain

In 1987, a gunman armed with semiautomatic weapons and a handgun shot and killed 16 people in a small town west of London. The incident led to Britain passing new laws that banned semiautomatic weapons and required shotgun owners to register their weapons.

An even stricter gun law was passed after the shooting death of 16 schoolchildren and one adult in 1996. The shooting in Dunblane led to the ban of handguns and a $200-million gun buyback program.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

magazine - n. a part of a gun that holds bullets

mosque - n. a building that is used for Muslim religious services

licensed - adj. having official permission or license³

access - n. permission or the right to use something

homicide - n. the act of killing⁹ another person

background - n. information, experiences, .. in a person's past

1 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

2 terrorist   

n.恐怖主义者，恐怖分子

参考例句：

• Without the gun,I'm a sitting duck for any terrorist.没有这支枪，我就成了恐怖分子下手的目标了。
• The district was put on red alert during a terrorist's bomb scare.这个地区在得到恐怖分子炸弹恐吓后作了应急准备。

3 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

4 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

7 executive   

adj.执行的，行政的；n.执行者，行政官，经理

参考例句：

• A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
• He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。

8 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。