New Round of Gun Confiscations in New Zealand
In 2019, New Zealand confiscated firearms from its citizens under a "gun buyback" scheme. In that round of gun confiscations, AR-15's were the primary target. Two years later, round 2 of the "gun buybacks" are beginning.
In a facebook post last week, New Zealand Police posted that they will be confiscating newly prohibited firearms. The newly prohibited firearms will be centerfire pump-action rifles, some .22 rimfire semi-automatics with lower receivers capable of being attached to a centerfire upper receiver, and large semi-automatic pistols. Pistol carbine conversion kits are also impacted by new restrictions. New Zealand Police added in their post, "If you know anybody that may own the newly prohibited firearms please share this information with them." In simpler terms, turn in your neighbor.
https://www.facebook.com/NZPolice/posts/2220648224735815
Crime Since the First Round of Confiscations
I have a lot of friends in New Zealand. I do business there and have many friends that are current or former cops in New Zealand. New Zealand has one police agency that acts nationally, unlike the US where there are multiple law enforcement agencies.
Gun Crime at Highest Rate in 10 Years
So how is gun crime since the first round of gun confiscations? According to an article at Radio New Zealand (RNZ), figures show the previous year had the highest rates of gun crime and deaths involving firearms for nearly 10 years. In my conversations with Kiwis, they confirm that gun crime seems to be on the rise since gun confiscation.
When I am in New Zealand, gun rights frequently takes the stage in conversations. People are blown away at how prevalent guns are in the US. When friends visit here in the United States, they laugh about how we are all carrying concealed guns. However, NZ is no stranger to gun crime. Several times I have been in NZ and I have read about a gun crime (the population of NZ is around 5 million people). In once instance, a police officer was carjacked at gunpoint and the police car was still missing when I left back to the states. NZ Police Officers have guns, but they are kept locked up in the car until they need to deploy them.
"Gun Buyback" is actually Gun Confiscation
The New Zealand plan is what some anti gunners in the US would like to do right now. Instead of using the term "Gun Confiscation" they think that "Gun Buyback" is a softer way of denying you of your civil liberties. However, there is a stark difference between the United States and New Zealand. Don't get me wrong, I love New Zealand. It is a great place to live and I'm jealous of my friends and the views that they enjoy everyday.
However, they do not have the 2nd amendment in their constitution like we do. I often joke with them that, "You don't see a Union Jack on our flag." The 2nd amendment guarantees our right, no matter how hard the left tries to erode our rights. When I talk to people in New Zealand that own guns, it's like talking to a gun owner here. They talk about suppression of rights and tyranny. However, they don't have the 2nd amendment and we do.
I feel for the people of New Zealand. What is happening to them is what happened in Australia, where violent crime is surging as well. I lived most of my life in California and watched as they outlawed more and more guns. California's gun control laws only made us less safe.
History is a predictor of the future. We know what will happen if the left erodes our gun rights any more than they have. With the left controlling congress and the White House, we must stand up and fight for our rights.