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New Zealand PM announces that their gun laws will change following terrorist attack

Published 14:28 17 Mar 2019 GMT

Updated 14:28 17 Mar 2019 GMT

Rudi Kinsella
New Zealand PM announces that their gun laws will change following terrorist attack

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The guns used in Friday's attacks were purchased legally in 2017.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that their "gun laws will change" following the mass shooting at two Christchurch mosques that left 49 people dead, according to CNN. Speaking at a news conference on Saturday morning, she said: "There were five guns used by the primary perpetrator. "There were two semi-automatic weapons and two shotguns. The offender was in possession of a gun license. I'm advised this was acquired in November of 2017. A lever-action firearm was also found. "While work is being done as to the chain of events that lead to both the holding of this gun license and the possession of these weapons, I can tell you one thing right now. "Our gun laws will change." New Zealand's gun laws, which were first passed in 1983, have come under scrutiny following the attack, but Ardern's words have been definitive since. As it stands, potential gun owners in New Zealand must be over the age of 16 and pass a police background check, according to GunPolicy.org.

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New Zealand PM announces gun laws will change following terrorist attack