Jacinda Ardern supports gun registry idea as Government works towards new firearms laws

March 26, 2019

Jacinda Ardern has already banned semi-automatic weapons and says a gun registry makes sense.

The Prime Minister supports a gun registry, but is taking advice from police on what changes need to happen following the ban of semi-automatic guns last week.

The ban and the idea of a gun registry come after 50 people were killed in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch on March 15.

"On the face of it, it absolutely makes sense [to have a gun registry]," Jacinda Ardern told TVNZ1's Breakfast today. "I'm leaning quite heavily on the police for advice because I think it sounds common sense to probably most of us."

"For me it's about having the police do that work to say 'has it worked overseas? Has it made a long-term difference? Is it something that you're advising, that you think will make a difference here in New Zealand?' So we're taking that advice.

The government was working towards a whole second tranche of reforms following the ban of semi-automatic rifles and modification parts last week, Ms Ardern said.

"We've acted very swiftly on the bans that we absolutely believed we needed to, and I think had the support of the public, but on wider reforms we will be going through a process and people will have a chance to really share their views."

There were no time lines on when the reforms would take place, however Ms Ardern assured the Government would move quickly on the issue. "I don't want to delay that work or draw it out," she said.

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