The tragedy in Christchurch, New Zealand, has hit very close to home. Over the years, we have visited New Zealand annually to be with our family that lives there. We have come to know well the beauty of the New Zealand people, culture and the land. With this most recent event, we find ourselves drawn to every bit of news from the first reporting of the horrific murders to the current discussion of gun control.
We are impressed by the articulate and sincere comments and announcements of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. We have listened to her live on Radio New Zealand and were touched by her passion for helping the victims of this despicable hate crime and determination to take action to prevent this kind of tragic event from happening again.
As American citizens we have been stunned and disheartened that our country has experienced so many mass killings in recent years and yet done so little to address the causes and the proliferation of the weapons that make them possible. In contrast, we are encouraged that the leaders in New Zealand have acted quickly to address what are now understood to be inadequate gun regulations, and that they will bring legislation to the parliament within a week. Political parties that have traditionally resisted further gun regulation have already stepped up to support what will soon be announced.
There is a strong gun lobby in New Zealand, but even they have agreed to come to the table and discuss new laws. We understand they are considering what Australia did in 1996 after its last mass killing, buying back semi-automatic weapons and banning their further sale. Since that law was adopted, Australia has had no more mass gun murders. No doubt this law will be opposed by some in New Zealand, but I suspect not the majority of the responsible gun-owning public.
Tiny New Zealand is not a world power, nor a world leader in commerce and industry. But soon it may become a world leader in addressing the epidemic of gun violence. In America we need to take a hard look at the reasons why our political leaders have not demonstrated that kind of determination and insist that gun law reform not wait until more innocent lives are taken.
(Paul and Deb Doscher live in Weare.)