Bill Process
The Bill was introduced on April 1, 2019, following an attack, on March 15, 2019, in which a gunman killed 50 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch. (Press Release, Stuart Nash, Tighter Gun Law to Enhance Public Safety (Apr. 1, 2019), New Zealand Government website.) Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Minister of Police, Stuart Nash, had officially announced the government’s intention to ban certain firearms, including the types used in the Christchurch attack, on March 21. (Press Release, Jacinda Ardern & Stuart Nash, New Zealand Bans Military Style Semi-Automatics and Assault Rifles (Mar. 21, 2019), New Zealand Government website.) This followed Cabinet decisions taken on March 18, three days after the attacks. (Id.)