By Editorial Board March 20 at 6:49 PM DAYS AFTER a gunman carried out a horrifying attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, that killed 50 people, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that she had ordered an inquiry to determine whether government agencies could have prevented the tragedy.
How did this happen? What could have been done differently? The questions are simple and obvious. They are nonetheless still striking for the contrast they show between how New Zealand and the United States respond to mass shootings. Instead of asking questions or resolving to take action as politicians in New Zealand are doing, we have come to accept as inevitable that large numbers of people will be killed every year by madmen with guns.
Such mass shootings are rare in New Zealand, as are all gun-related homicides. But the ease with which the Christchurch gunman was able to obtain an arsenal that included semiautomatic weapons was enough to convince Ms. Ardern of the need for better checks on guns. She announced her intent to tighten the country’s laws mere hours after Friday’s terrifying events.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the modest push for universal background checks for gun purchases that passed the House faces an uphill struggle in the Senate and veto threats from the White House, even though it has the support of most Americans. Once again, the U.S. political system looks feckless compared with other democracies.The Post’s View: The U.S.
Joe Scarborough: I disagreed with Obama. But what Trump has done makes those differences insignificant.
anneapplebaum PostOpinions Dressing in a degrading fashion for women is no example to follow
PostOpinions Can the US have a twenty-first century upgrade like this one
PostOpinions Can America see it ?
zynr07 PostOpinions They don’t have the NRA or anything analogous in New Zealand. We fight an uphill battle fighting many, many millions of dollars of lobbying for these murderous weapons I hope our elected officials are listening, just because we have the NRA doesn’t mean we can’t do these things
GiffordsCourage PostOpinions No, media is lying. This socialist campaign being championed by Jacinda whateverthefuck is not going as hoped. Kiwis are not turning in weapons as reported and are choosing not to comply. Stop believing the fake news garbage.
PostOpinions Can’t wait to see what happens when the bad guys start using knives, cars/trucks and bombs.
jacksanders1965 PostOpinions The word Terrorist is missing when it comes down to a Christian. Just pointing out hypocracy
PostOpinions Ummm - NO fucking shit. Duh America. Australia did the exact same thing.
PostOpinions Fuck New Zealand, our founders had the foresight to have a 2nd amendment.
PostOpinions Title should read. NZ caves to terrorists within hours!
navarrotells PostOpinions With a knee jerk reaction?
PostOpinions What about knives? They should ban them too...
PostOpinions Everybody calm down, let’s see what happens
PostOpinions This is leadership. We need to learn
GiffordsCourage PostOpinions But this is so un-conservative. How can they prefer lives of Innocents over guns owners hobbies and the mighty Heathen NRA? Have they no shame? We have been sacrificing our kids and loved ones lives on the altar of NRA for so long. We can't allow this. May the NRA forgive us.
PostOpinions That what we are expecting from our politicians too.
PostOpinions It's what they need to do is show us what to do with the mentally ill because that's who's doing the shooting
PostOpinions No and no. New Zealand disarmed it’s citizens for an act of violence caused by an Australian? Now not only will there police have no firearms the defenseless citizens will have no way to protect themselves🤔 let’s see just how this plays out.
ElectBetterUSA PostOpinions
GiffordsCourage PostOpinions I wish our politicians had her courage!!!!
GiffordsCourage PostOpinions
anneapplebaum PostOpinions By removing ability to self protect and only make more people angry? Good move. More tension on the way.
BenVolin PostOpinions They are censoring books and videos in response to this. Anyone who thinks that is a proper response is a fool.
PostOpinions I understand they also have universal healthcare. What a concept – do the right thing for your citizens in all aspect of governance.
PostOpinions No, they are not!
PostOpinions Fittin to go punch some steel with a real weapon of war. Is this one gonna be banned too?
PostOpinions Really when another country without the us constitution enacts an emotional knee jerk that makes their law abiding citizens criminal's, that's the example to hold up to the greatest country in the world?
PostOpinions Moloch worshipping tranny, takes peaceful citizens guns... Awesome WP. What a communist shit rag! DoItQ QSentMe
PostOpinions Australia showed you many years ago, problem is you just won’t listen.
PostOpinions Peace and Life.
PostOpinions Trade you the right to bear arms in exchange for no freedom of the press.
PostOpinions Just like Scotland did after Dunblane. Surprisingly there have been no school shootings since 🤯
PostOpinions No. They’re are showing just the opposite. How NOT to react to mass shootings. After this only the criminals will have guns. So who is going to protect the law abiding citizens?
PostOpinions But not for the Constitution of the United States...you clowns!
BenVolin PostOpinions This is how they take away our guns. NO THNAKS.
PostOpinions No. Punishing law abiding citizens is not how you do anything. NewZealand also doesn't have a 2A.
PostOpinions Amazing what can be done when you don’t have politicians beholden to the cult of NRA.
PostOpinions Then, ban spoons so there won't be any fat people.
PostOpinions No the FF was just a gun grab. Where is all of the coverage for the kids they tried to burn in a bus?
PostOpinions Not Quite!
PostOpinions Try it. Come to my home first
PostOpinions Narrator: 'It's not'
PostOpinions Yeah, restricting personal rights just like the killer wanted. Trying to censor other voices in the process, just like the killer intended. Wapo, a question, are you just ignorant or are you maybe pushing an agenda? Too bad your parents weren't anti-vaxers.
PostOpinions New Zealand showing how to infringe on innocent citizens rights. I hope the next mad man down use a car, will you ban the auto then.
navarrotells PostOpinions Exactly. Now only the criminals will have them and honest citizens will have no protection from them.
PostOpinions Except that we already had an assault rifle ban. Allowed to expire because it doesn't affect the behavior of people who are interested in committing murder.
PostOpinions They are letting one lunatic set policy for the whole country!
PostOpinions Feckless indeed.
PostOpinions For the millionth time the US turns it’s face away while the rest of the world takes common-sensical response to violence. onlyinamerica guncontrol GunReformNow NRA
PostOpinions “... the U.S. political system looks feckless compared with other democracies.” That’s by design so we don’t legislate based on emotion after a terrible event like what happened in New Zealand
PostOpinions A mass shooter will never care about gun control laws... infant gun control always predisposes the victims easily to the shooter...also remember that gun control is always a precursor to genocide...
anneapplebaum PostOpinions Nope.
PostOpinions With fear and ignorance? Or with be political posturing? Germany and France should of taught you people that strict gun laws don't stop mass shootings.
PostOpinions No
PostOpinions Yes, don a hijab and disarm the population in response to a FF. Nah America is good. Why was Podesta the Molesta there? Why did the gun have Podestas fish and 14 symbols on it?
PostOpinions NZ doesn’t have a second amendment -too bad for them!
PostOpinions 'New Zealand is showing America how to usher in tyranny'
PostOpinions So the PM issued an EO with no vote. As Dems have hinted, they will use this strategy if Trump loses 2020, EOs for Guns, Climate Change, .... Ben Franklin, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
PostOpinions By giving the terrorist what he wants?
PostOpinions In all likelihood NZ doesn't have a mafia gun lobby and the unconcerned lot at the White House & The Capitol.
PostOpinions Nope. This woman is a joke.
PostOpinions As hard as they try to tear apart the 2nd Amendment here, thank God we're still hanging in there. Staying out of New Zealand!
EKhasanova PostOpinions That’s what leadership looks like fellas!! The Kiwis punch well above their weight hey bro!!
PostOpinions
PostOpinions All Liberals care about is saving peoples lives and protecting children and safeguarding schools! What about the rights of gun makers making huge profits?! Pretty soon their executives won't be able to afford top private jets! I'm a lunatic and I approve this message!
PostOpinions but new zealand isnt run by a deep state triumvirate of billionaires the nra and fanatical capitalist ideologues , so your being very unfair
PostOpinions So you think the criminals will stop. Simpletons.
PostOpinions Because they don't have NRA!
PostOpinions Her response was to wear a Muslim head covering and disarm New Zealanders. Wasn't that easy?
PostOpinions Common sense prevails.
PostOpinions 1. silence those who question the media narrative with 14 yrs in prison 2. take away civil liberties 3. blame political opponent base (incorrectly) 4. repeat until objective is achieved
PostOpinions Some brains must of fell out of that big mouth of Jacinda Ardern. Let’s take the limited killing guns away from deranged individuals and force them to use mass killing bombs. If you outlaw firearms from legal citizens, the only people to have firearms are the criminals.
PostOpinions Wrong they are showing how to be weak and make knee jerk decisions. That is not the American way.
PostOpinions tariqnasheed
PostOpinions Trampling the rights of millions for the actions of one person
PostOpinions What about Netherlands ? How to solve their problem? Oh I forgot you guys don’t report real terrorism.
PostOpinions
PostOpinions NZ and the US are two different countries. The west needs to do something about crime culture. It is ideology that take advantage of countries with little restrictions. It is ideology that kills.
PostOpinions
PostOpinions Disarming law abiding citizens is a recipe for more disasters!
PostOpinions You should compare the burglary rate in New Zealand and America before comparing gun control.
PostOpinions New zealand did not ban weapons to show america, you dolts at the post are underestimating the publics intelligence, usa had nothing to do with nz attack...
PostOpinions 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 oh dear if U have to take UR lead from a Socialist treehugger that depleted the FiscalBudget of NZ In 8 months after her election lost more jobs than the ANC and is barely staying relevant economically due to Australia U R idiots!
PostOpinions Every other country is seeing the response...👏🇮🇳
PostOpinions I hope to be New Zealand, Or living in New Zealand ...
PostOpinions New Zealand is showing itself to be ignorant of history. In merry old England, knives have repalced guns as weapons of choice for criminals. Whether dead by the murderer's bullet or his knife, the victim is still 100% DEAD. SelfDefense is a pillar of the natural RightToLife
PostOpinions It seems they value life over profit!
PostOpinions
PostOpinions Is there a need to bad a weapon that makes up less than 5% of all gun crime globally? Also we have a 2nd amendment. They do not and under the constitution states as individuals can ban military style rifles.
PostOpinions They are showing us how to surrender our freedoms and rights. This woman is a globalist puppet and coward. We true Americans choose to keep our guns. SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED!
PostOpinions If we don’t ban semi-automatic weapons here after ALL the shootings and hundreds of thousand dead...we are no longer a respectable country. (That ship’s already sailed though) Anyone who FIGHTS banning these weapons of war aren’t patriots. Mass murder shouldn’t be legal.
PostOpinions Australia showed you back in 1996 but you didn’t want to look.
PostOpinions By violating its citizens’ god-given right to the means of self-defense
PostOpinions Indeed. Fortunately for New Zealand, it has no NRA, no GOP and a truly inspiring leader who happens not to be a white supremacist sociopath.
PostOpinions Prime Minister: New Zealand has proved to be a great nation, Greetings to New Zealand and its chairmanship 🌹💐️️.
PostOpinions Yeah, sure. NZ has shown everything. Is the NZ a safe place for Americans? Hello Prime Minister, salaam alaikum, ma'am.
PostOpinions Not mass shooting that was a terrorist attack
PostOpinions They are are showing that when their government fails to screen immigrants, giving him a gun permit, and fails to protect its citizens, it turns on the latter, forcing them to give up their property for promises of safety they already unquestionably failed to provide.
PostOpinions There are differences between NewZealand & USA, firstly they have near zero illegal immigrants unlike America where 5% of the population is in the shadows, secondly they are 2500Km by sea from anywhere don't have a long border where people & stuff keep moving to & fro illegally
PostOpinions Give up your guns so leftists can get erections.
PostOpinions Salute .. brave woman... GOD BLESS HER
PostOpinions
PostOpinions Trump leave the chat group NRA leave the chat group GOP leave the chat group
PostOpinions With gun confiscation. Because when only criminals have guns, America will be safe from democrat white supremacists.
PostOpinions An example really 👍
PostOpinions America was indirectly involved with the NZ massacre as a result of their support for apartheid Israel who were clearly involved? BoycottEurovision2019
PostOpinions But does the USA🇺🇸 want to ‘see’...
PostOpinions Thank god the Muslims have a white savior.
PostOpinions The difference between NZ and the US is not population size, type of government, or even the 2nd. We already have registries and bans of certain weapons. The biggest difference is the gun lobby and the GOP politicians that are beholden to them. That’s it.
PostOpinions France is showing how to respond to no shootings.
PostOpinions Molon labe.
PostOpinions Like Australia did 23 years ago. What happened?
PostOpinions Proud of NZ
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