Shuttershock
The recent
fatal shooting at an Auckland construction site in New Zealand
on a Thursday underscores the universal challenge of gun control failure,
showcasing the frequent lack of understanding about firearm realities that is
not exclusive to the United States.
As reported by
The Guardian, the shooting rampage, carried out by 24-year-old Matu Tangi Matua Reid
using a pump shotgun, resulted in two deaths and ten injuries, including two
police officers. Reid, who was also an employee at the construction site,
was killed during the incident.
In the aftermath, New Zealand's anti-gun factions promptly began to voice
their opinions. Gun Control New Zealand, an advocacy group favoring firearm
registration, stated that such a registry would heighten accountability
amongst firearm owners, thereby reducing the likelihood of guns falling into
the hands of unlicensed individuals or criminal groups.
Despite these assertions, the tragic event demonstrates that even the
suspect, who did not possess a firearm license, was able to acquire a gun.
The discourse became even more heated when the gun control group claimed
that pump-action shotguns pose a greater risk than bolt-action rifles. This
argument seems to be a recurring theme in the "gun control playbook", where
specific firearm types are vilified based on the intention to ban them.
The group's rhetoric eerily echoes statements made by American groups
campaigning for gun restrictions, aiming to progressively reduce the number
of privately-owned firearms. Currently, the focus is on pump shotguns.
Gun Control New Zealand claimed that, "In New Zealand, anyone with a licence
can buy as many pump-action shotguns as they want," contrasting with
Australia, where only farmers are allowed to own a single shotgun.
While New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has pledged a comprehensive
investigation, it's likely to conclude that no gun control law can entirely
prevent firearms from falling into the hands of those determined to cause
harm.
Further reports
in The Guardian exposed Reid's violent criminal past. Much like some
American convicts, Reid was under home detention due to a previous crime. He
was serving a sentence in relation to an assault where he caused serious
injury to a woman.
The country's authorities are now questioning why Reid was under home
detention and how he managed to acquire the shotgun. Such questions echo
those raised in the U.S. whenever a violent individual perpetrates a mass
killing.
For instance, investigators in Louisiana are still trying to
unravel the circumstances surrounding a fatal shooting
at a Harvey shipyard, where the suspect had been on probation due to a
previous crime.
As of now, no concrete motive for the Auckland shooting has been identified.
The occurrence gained further attention because it happened just before the
commencement of the Women's World Cup tournament in the city, although no
link between the two events has been established.
The previous significant shooting incident in New Zealand took place in
Christchurch
in 2019, when 51 people were killed in attacks on two mosques. Subsequently,
the government enacted the
Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019, leading to the repurchase of numerous firearms from the public.
However, last week's tragedy in Auckland suggests that these measures did
not prevent another fatal incident. Instead of acknowledging this fact, it
is expected that New Zealand officials will likely advocate for even more
stringent gun control laws.
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