After a deadly mass shooting at a mosque in New Zealand, it took Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern only a week to announce a ban on all assault weapons and “military-style automatic weapons.” “This is what real action to stop gun violence looks like,” said Bernie Sanders.
Gun confiscation has since become part of the Democratic platform (even if Joy Beher says the candidates should keep it quiet until after the election), but any pushback regarding exactly how the government will “buy back” those guns from people whose guns aren’t up for sale is just met with the idea that police going door to door to enforce the ban is a Republican “scare tactic.”
So … in New Zealand, as some of the U.S. primary candidates have suggested, legal gun owners are supposed to continue to be law-abiding and just turn in their weapons. Except with an end-of-the-year deadline looming, it doesn’t look like New Zealanders are anxious to hand over their weapons.
With about six weeks left before a government deadline, less than 20% of the estimated number of banned firearms have been handed over. https://t.co/mDHadv4eIO
— Cam Edwards (@CamEdwards) November 4, 2019
Cam Edwards over at Twitchy sister-site Bearing Arms reports that according to New Zealand Police Minister Stuart Nash, more than 32,000 prohibited weapons have been turned in since collection began in summer. That might sound like a lot, but it’s estimated that there are about 175,000 of those rifles in circulation in the country, resulting in a compliance rate of about 18 percent.
A “modest but tangible success”? I think it’s more like a complete failure. Let’s say when the deadline passes less than one-third of the banned firearms have been turned in. What exactly has been accomplished, other than the compensated confiscation of a few thousand firearms and the criminalization of tens of thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens?
This reminds us of when the CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods announced that the company had taken about $5 million worth of inventory and destroyed it. So?
This can't be. I was told it was a massive success.
— Krystle Baker (@TarheelKrystle) November 4, 2019
It will be declared a success no matter how much of a failure it actually is.
— Cam Edwards (@CamEdwards) November 4, 2019
Indeed. If it takes just one rifle out of the hands of a law-abiding citizen, it was worth it.
But I was told by (failed) U.S. presidential candidates that they would be able to take the "most dangerous guns from the most dangerous people"? It's almost like it doesn't work. ?
— Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) November 4, 2019
Well, that wasn’t the only thing @BetoORourke got wrong about his fellow Americans.
— Cam Edwards (@CamEdwards) November 4, 2019
What's important is that they got a few symbolic self-loathers to give a few photo ops
— Vincent S?. James (@slatermaus) November 4, 2019
We’ve seen some of that virtue signaling of people turning over their AR-15s, and yes, it does make for a great selfie opportunity.
If she needs someone to be first through the door when the confiscations begin I hear #Beto has some time on his hands.
— Seany Hide (@SeanyHide) November 4, 2019
I served with some Kiwis during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Didn’t seem to be the type to give up their guns. Makes no sense to me.
— Boonedoggy (@boonedoggyhurt) November 4, 2019
Man, it's just sad, the number of boating accidents that have happened there. pic.twitter.com/VV8a5KwKIX
— Arthur Frelling Dent (@ArthurFrDent) November 4, 2019
I’ll bet there’s a ton of “lost” guns! I know mine would have suddenly vanished…
— Starling (@Starling570wwnc) November 4, 2019
This is why they want a gun registry so badly :/
— ER (@_eric_richard) November 4, 2019
They say if the current turnover rate holds, the final compliance rate will be around 29 percent. And then you have a whole lot of illegal gun owners in your country and it’s not one bit safer.
Faced with putting well over 100,000 political dissidents in prison or admitting defeat, I expect there will be an extended amnesty period followed by a rewarded snitch campaign in order to frighten gun owners into further compliance.
— Rob Hill (@Rob_N_SoCal) November 4, 2019
Yep.
Does that mean there will be mass incarcerations for 80% of the gun-owning population in about six weeks?
— Dan Goldwasser (@dgoldwas) November 4, 2019
Imagine how low the participation rate would be in America.
— Backroad Redneck (@RedneckBackroad) November 4, 2019
I’m guessing Beto’s similar program in the US would have had low, single digit compliance.
— Feckless in Colorado (@THorn98043674) November 4, 2019
Hopefully 0%
— BobTheTrollKing (@BTTK_Official) November 4, 2019
Related:
WATCH: Did congressional candidate 'destroy' her AR-15 on video or commit a felony? https://t.co/50BUpXZ7Bk
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 8, 2018
