White House hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., applauded the efforts taken by New Zealand to crack down on semi-automatic and military grade weapons in the aftermath of the New Zealand massacre in Christchurch last week, which left 50 people dead.
Sanders, who has been a staunch supporter of stricter gun regulations throughout his time in public service, said the United States should be following the example set by New Zealand’s government.
“This is what real action to stop gun violence looks like. We must follow New Zealand’s lead, take on the NRA and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons in the United States,” Sanders tweeted on Thursday.
[Related: Democrats are just getting started on their gun control wish list]
This is what real action to stop gun violence looks like. We must follow New Zealand’s lead, take on the NRA and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons in the United States. https://t.co/lSAisDG9Ur
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 21, 2019
After the shootings at to mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the nation the Labour-led government would ban all military-style weapons, including semi-automatic and assault rifles. The government will also establish a buyback system as a way for current owners of the newly outlawed weapons to safely and legally give up their weapons before the new mandate goes into effect.
“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,” she said at a press conference Thursday local time. “We will ban parts that cause a firearm to generate semi-automatic, automatic, or close to automatic gunfire.”
“When Australia undertook similar reforms, their approach was to allow for exemptions for farmers upon application, including for pest control and animal welfare. We have taken similar action to identify the weapons legitimately required in those areas, and preclude them,” she said.
