How to hand over your gun

More than 250,000 New Zealanders own a firearm, and many now own them illegally following changes to gun laws.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday two more groups of semi-automatic guns would be classified as military style semi-automatic firearms following Christchurch’s terror attacks.

‘‘Obviously, the detail means that people who were, prior to 3pm [on Thursday], lawfully in possession of firearms such as semi-automatic assault rifles, are no longer lawfully in possession of those firearms,’’

Police Commissioner

Mike Bush Police

said. Commissioner

Speaking Mike Bush

in Wellington,

Bush said police wanted people to surrender their illegal firearms as quickly as possible.

He encouraged people to register their intention to hand over guns, online at police.govt.nz, where they would find an electronic form to fill in.

People not comfortable doing that could register by calling police on 0800 311 311.

‘‘We would prefer you not to come to a police station with that firearm at that stage, but if you wish to, and that is your only option, please contact us first to make a time or an appointment,’’ Bush said.

The buy-back scheme, estimated to cost between $100 million and $200 million, would provide challenges but police would offer as much support as possible, Bush said.

‘‘We’ll be working with everyone to ensure we give them every assistance to take those firearms off them, get them out of circulation and into a place of safe keeping, so those firearms can never be used again in an act of violence so horrific as we saw last Friday.’’

There would be a ‘‘grace period’’ for people to hand over their guns, after which they would likely be prosecuted, Bush said.

‘‘So I encourage everyone in that situation ... to contact us immediately, or within the next few days at least.’’