Dems and Gun-Control Advocates Celebrate New Zealand Gun-Confiscation Plan

American gun-control advocates and Democratic politicians took to social media to celebrate New Zealand's plan to ban and confiscate many semiautomatic rifles and magazines on Thursday in the wake of the deadly Christchurch mosque attack.

New Zealand's plan involves banning the sale and possession of any semiautomatic rifle or shotgun capable of accepting a magazine that holds more than five rounds of ammunition. Those who own such firearms would have to turn them in to police during a yet-to-be-determined buyback period or face criminal prosecution, fines, and jail time. The policy further restricts gun ownership in the country, which has a small number of gun owners. State officials enjoy wide authority to deny or revoke gun ownership licenses, which are required to purchase or own firearms.

Though they have traditionally avoided advocating for gun confiscation, many Democrats and gun-control advocates in the United States celebrated the actions of the New Zealand government and the speed at which they moved to enact the confiscation scheme.

A number of leading Democrats in Congress tweeted their support for New Zealand's actions.

"‘Every semi-automatic weapon used in the terror attack on Friday will be banned. This legislation will be drafted and introduced in urgency,'" Rep. Ted Deutch (D., Fla.) tweeted. "Not thoughts. Not prayers. Action."