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New Zealand just banned military-style firearms. U.S. can’t. (New Zealand,…
New Zealand just banned military-style firearms. U.S. can’t.
fact
terrorist attack killed at least 50 in Christchurch
NZ : gun laws change
24 hours later
:red_cross: military-style semiautomatic weapons
:red_cross: assault rifles
a buyback program was being set up
the usa perspective
= policy inaction of U.S. politicians after mass shootings
How similar were gun laws in New Zealand and the United States until now?
only nations --> without universal gun registration rules
strong gun lobbies that have stalled previous attempts to rein in gun owners’ liberties
New Zealand
the gun lobby dictates policy to the government
listened to far too acutely by the government
managed to water down every single attempt at improving the gun laws
gun lobby
= responsable for the crime
USA
United States’ National Rifle Association
aligned politicians financially
uses social media to attack its opponents
+/- 1/4 million gun owners in a country of only 5 million people
why don't the usa change the law?
many law-abiding gun owners who do not commit violence
= mass shootings are due to evil or deeply disturbed individuals
this argument works better in NZ
shootings and homicides are more rare
So, how could New Zealand ban some weapons so quickly?
the difference between the USA and the NZ ? Election systeem
New Zealand’s interest groups have predominantly lobbied the government quietly
rather than threatening politicians with the scorn of their powerful voter base
NZ = gun lobby = rural supporters
while +86% of New Zealanders live in urban areas and form a largely liberal majority
USA = proportion living in urban areas is slightly lower
U.S. system of representation and the way congressional districts are drawn increase the significance of rural Republican voters disproportionately
and the power of courts ?
USA = he Second Amendment as giving people the right to own guns
conclusion
"Our gun laws won’t change, but we can definitely offer thoughts and prayers"
Electoral systeem
explain --> NRA can pressure politicians
USA = Senate gives extraordinary power to rural states
NZ = designed in a way that the number of lawmakers a party has in Parliament is aligned with its share among all votes cast --> mixed member proportional voting system