CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — New Zealand’s prime minister vowed to toughen the country’s gun laws after revealing Saturday that the man accused of murdering 49 people in two mosques legally purchased the arsenal of firearms used in the massacre. Anyone over 16 can apply for a New Zealand firearms license, valid for 10 years after completing a safety course and a police background check. Separate “endorsements” are required to own semi-automatic weapons like those used in Friday’s attack, as well as pistols and other restricted weapons. Ardern noted the failure of several earlier attempts to reform gun laws and said a ban on semi-automatic weapons would be considered. A 1997 police review of gun laws called for such a ban, but attempts to update the Arms Act since 1992 have stalled in parliament.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 15, 2019 23:26 UTC