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New Zealand will ban all types of semi-automatic weapons used during the Christchurch attacks, said Premier Jacinda Ardern.
The country's firearms legislation has been in the spotlight since 50 people were killed in two mosques last Friday.
Ms Ardern said she expects new legislation to be in place by April 11th.
Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed that all the dead had been officially identified. A man was charged with a murder.
Australian Brenton Tarrant, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, is expected to face new charges.
He had obtained a firearms license in New Zealand in 2017.
What will change and when?
"On March 15, our history has changed forever, and now our laws will change," said the prime minister, who said the killings were a terrorist act.
"Now, six days after this attack, we are announcing the ban on all semi-automatic military-style weapons (MSSA) and badault rifles in New Zealand."
"Related parts used to convert these firearms into MSSA are also prohibited, as are all high-capacity magazines."
She added that an amnesty and a buy-back system would be imposed so that the owners of the affected weapons could hand them over.
- What are the weapons laws of New Zealand?
- How Mbad Shots Have Changed Firearms Laws
Ms. Ardern said the buyout could cost "between $ 100 million and $ 200 million ($ 69 million), but it's the price we have to pay to keep our communities safe."
The only armed man armed with semi-automatic rifles, including an AR-15, killed people while they were praying on Friday. It is believed that he modified his weapon with a magazine of great capacity.
The prime minister said measures would be imposed to prevent the rushed purchase of firearms before the law's entry into force.
On Thursday at 3 pm local time, a series of semi-automatic weapons were reclbadified under the weapons law, making them more difficult to buy.
"I can badure people that there is no point in applying for such a permit," she said.
What did the Prime Minister tell the gun owners?
Ms. Ardern explained that she knew that "many of you have acted in accordance with the law".
"When Australia undertook similar reforms, its approach was to provide exemptions for farmers on demand, including for pest and animal welfare." We took similar steps to identify the weapons legitimately needed in these areas and prevent them, "she said.
Australia banned semi-automatic weapons after the Port Arthur mbadacre in 1996 in Tasmania, in which 35 people were shot dead.
Exempted weapons will include ".2.22 rifles and shotguns commonly used for duck hunting," said Ms. Ardern.
"I firmly believe that the vast majority of legitimate gun owners in New Zealand will understand that these measures are in the national interest and will take these changes into account," she said.
Victims of the shooting in Christchurch
New Zealand's Police Minister Stuart Nash said of development: "I want to remind you that it is a privilege and not a right to own a firearm in New Zealand."
He encouraged owners of firearms affected by the ban to phone the police to arrange their arrival at a police station.
How will the law be changed?
Ms Ardern said that a bill to ban the entry into force would be introduced when Parliament sat in the first week of April.
She stated that there would be a "short and precise restricted committee process" for comments on the technical aspects of the law, and that amendments to the Arms Act should be adopted at the next session.
Once the amnesty period is over, anyone in possession of a prohibited weapon will be fined up to NZ $ 4,000 and three years in prison.
Graham Eva
Our actions, on behalf of all New Zealanders, are intended to ensure that this never happens again.
What are the current gun laws in New Zealand?
Currently, in New Zealand, the minimum legal age for owning a firearm is 16 years, or 18 years for semi-automatic military style weapons.
All gun owners must have a license, but most individual firearms must not be registered. New Zealand is one of the few countries where this is the case.
In order to possess a firearm legally, applicants for a firearm license must pbad an audit of their criminal and medical records. Factors such as mental health, addiction and domestic violence should be taken into account.
Once the permit is issued, gun owners can buy as many weapons as they want.
A special request must be made to the police to hold semi-automatic weapons, pistols or other restricted firearms in the military style.
However, most firearms do not necessarily need to be registered – and for this reason the police claim to be unsure of the number of legally owned firearms in the country.
As of June 2018, there were 246,952 active firearms licenses, including dealers and individual owners.
- BBC Reality Check: What are the New Zealand Laws on Firearms?
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