New Zealand Fights Back Against Mass Shooting

Police+stand+outside+a+mosque+in+Linwood%2C+Christchurch%2C+New+Zealand%2C+Friday%2C+March+15%2C+2019.+Multiple+people+were+killed+during+shootings+at+two+mosques+full+of+people+attending+Friday+prayers.+%28AP+Photo%2FMark+Baker%29

Mark Baker

Police stand outside a mosque in Linwood, Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. Multiple people were killed during shootings at two mosques full of people attending Friday prayers. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Samantha Crowson, Cougar Tales and Feature Editor

The world suffered another great tragedy due to 2 consecutive mass shooting in New Zealand on March 15th (Al Noor Mosque in Riccarton at 1:40 pm, and at the Linwood Islamic Centre at 1:55 pm). 50 people were killed and over 50 reported injured from this attack. The man responsible was reportedly a part of a white supremacy group.

The 28-year-old native Australian accountable, live streamed the massacre on Facebook, prompting many outbursts from people across the world, and especially New Zealand. According to a post on newsroom.fb.com, “The video was viewed fewer than 200 times during the live broadcast. No users reported the video during the live broadcast.  The video was viewed about 4000 times in total before being removed from Facebook.” Facebook then went on to state other facts about the video including, “The first user report on the original video came 29 minutes after the video started, and 12 minutes after the live broadcast ended.” They stated that they have removed 1.5 million posts of the shooting, and will not let another incident like this occur again.

Less than a week after the attack, New Zealand took major steps to avoiding this event in the future by passing new gun laws against military grade, semi automatic assault riffles and large magazines. This decision was immediately enforced by stopping all gun sales for the newly illegal weapons, and New Zealand officials are planning a Buyback Program to remove any current ownership of the weapons as well.  In a national announcement made on the 21st, New Zealand’s Prime minister Jacinda Ardern stated, “I strongly believe that the vast majority of legitimate gun owners in New Zealand will understand that these moves are in the national interest, and will take these changes in their stride.” New Legislations are said to be passed by April 11th.