New Zealand's Ardern acts to tighten gun laws further

Marty MELVILLE / AFP

New Zealand plans to further tighten its gun laws, six months after attacks on two Christchurch mosques left 51 people dead. 

"Owning a firearm is a privilege, not a right," Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said in a statement after announcing a new bill in Parliament on Friday.

"That attack exposed weaknesses in legislation which we have the power to fix. We would not be a responsible government if we didn't address them."

The new bill will include a register to track every firearm legally held in New Zealand and will shorten the duration of a gun licence from 10 years to five years.

It'll also aim to ensure gun ownership is restricted to responsible users and prevent the flow of guns into the black market.

More from International News

On Virgin Radio today

  • Non Stop Hits

    1:00am - 10:00am

    The UAE's #1 Hit Music Station with no interruptions

  • Avery

    10:00am - 1:00pm

    Adding a smile to your day while playing the hottest hit music in the UAE.

Trending on Virgin Radio

  • If Craig David had a verse on Azizam

    The legendary Craig David joins The Kris Fade Show for an unforgettable chat!

  • Untold Dubai

    It arrived: The UAE's First Mega Music Festival at Expo City Dubai!

  • ARN News Centre

    Get the latest UAE and world news from our award winning team of journalists. The ARN News Centre is the country's most trusted source of information.

  • Middle East Hot 30

    Every weekend Kris Fade plays the biggest tracks in the Middle East. Check out this weeks chart...