While New Zealand police praised firearms owners forand amnesty scheme, opposition politicians and the gun owner lobby have called it a failure.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government banned military-style semi-automatic weapons less than a month after a suspected white supremacist killed 51 people and injured 50 in a massacre at two mosques in Christchurch on 15 March. Gun owners had until Saturday to return their firearms to receive a payout.
"As of midnight, 20 December 2019, 56,250 firearms and 194,245 parts have been handed in," Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement said in a statement.
Mark Mitchell from the opposing National Party said police failed to buy back "anywhere near the number of
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hugs mourners in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attack. Source: Getty Images
As there is no gun registry in New Zealand, estimates of how many of the now illegal semi-automatic firearms were in circulation differ wildly.
While police earlier this year estimated that there were between 56,000 and 173,000 prohibited firearms, Mitchell suggested numbers were "as high as
In a statement, Nicole McKee, spokesperson of the lobbying group Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO), said the organisation believed that "two-thirds of the firearms banned have been retained by owners."
Police Minister Stuart Nash said the number of firearms handed in or still being processed was within the range estimated by consultancy firm KPMG which provided independent advice to the police.
The mosque attack prompted a swift ban on assault rifles and military-style semi-automatic weapons used by the lone shooter. Source: AAP
"However police have consistently warned the problem is we just don't know exactly how many guns are out in the community," Mr Nash added.
