OREANDA-NEWSThe authorities of New Zealand will expand the list of crimes related to arms trafficking, as well as toughen penalties for such offenses. This was reported on Friday by the New Zealand Press.

The introduction of the next package of amendments to the law on arms trafficking in New Zealand was announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. According to her, these innovations will allow New Zealand to join the UN protocol against the illicit manufacture and trafficking of firearms, its components and components, as well as ammunition for it.

According to Ardern, licenses will be reduced from 10 to 5 years and the procedure for obtaining them will be tightened. "We must do everything possible so that only law-abiding citizens can obtain licenses for purchase firearms and use them. New steps are aimed at preventing the weapons from falling into the hands of criminals", the New Zealand Prime Minister quoted the publication as saying.

The head of government also recalled that in the next five years the country will create an online register for owners of firearms, which will store all information about the license holder, his personal data, as well as all information about the stored weapons, including his identification marking and information about all movements. It's expected that the registry will allow authorities to better control the legal import and export of weapons from the country and will help in the fight against organized crime.

A law prohibiting the circulation of assault and semi-automatic rifles, as well as their ammunition in New Zealand, entered into force on April 12. These measures were in response to attacks on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15, which killed 51 people and injured 50 more. The attacker - 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant - was charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorist attack, but he said in court that he wasn't guilty of these crimes. Hearings in the case will take place on May 4, 2020, it is expected that the trial will take from 6 to 12 weeks.