New Zealand citizens turn over weapons in buyback
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Dozens of Christchurch gun owners handed over weapons Saturday in exchange for money, in the first of more than 250 planned buyback events across New Zealand after the government outlawed many types of semiautomatic guns.
Police said they paid more than 430,000 New Zealand dollars ($288,000) to 169 gun owners during the event. The money was paid directly into the bank accounts of gun owners.
New Zealand lawmakers rushed through new legislation in April to ban so-called military-style weapons after a lone gunman killed 51 people at two Christchurch mosques in March.
The government has set aside more than NZ$200 million to buy back weapons such as AR-15 style rifles, although many gun owners remain unhappy with the compensation being offered.
Under an amnesty program, gun owners have until December to turn over their now-banned weapons.
There are an estimated 1 million to 1.5 million guns in New Zealand and 250,000 licensed gun owners. Police said at least 14,000 of those guns are now banned under the new legislation.
Under the buyback plan, gun owners are compensated between 25% and 95% of the pre-tax price of a new gun, depending on the condition of the weapon.
Police are using hydraulic machines to crush the gun barrels and firing mechanisms of the weapons, rendering them inoperable before disposing of them.
Police Minister Stuart Nash said the results from the first collection were very encouraging.
“Many of those who handed over firearms commented how easy the process is, how the prices are fair, and how police made the whole event go smoothly,” Nash said.
But Nicole Mckee, secretary of the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners, said the government is shortchanging gun owners by trying to complete the buyback on the cheap.
She said gun owners must rely on police assessments of the condition of their guns and aren’t getting paid anything for the thousands of dollars they spent on tax as well as certain accessories and ammunition.