Sanders calls on US to follow New Zealand gun ban

By Michael Hernandez</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has called for the U.S. to follow New Zealand's lead in banning military-style assault rifles. </p> <p>On Wednesday, New Zealand enacted a ban on all such weapons following a recent terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques that left at least 50 dead. </p> <p>&quot;This is what real action to stop gun violence looks like. We must follow New Zealand's lead, take on the NRA and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons in the United States,&quot; Sanders, who is seeking the 2020 Democratic nomination, wrote on Twitter Wednesday, referring to the powerful National Rifle Association lobbying group. </p> <p>Sanders, along with many Democrats, has long called for the U.S. to overhaul its firearms laws following a series of mass shootings that have repeatedly devastated the nation. </p> <p>But U.S. lawmakers have so far been reticent to re-enact an assault weapons ban despite the mounting death toll from attacks in which that type of weapon is commonly used, in part due to opposition from the NRA. </p> <p>The U.S. had banned the manufacture of assault weapons for civilian use in 1994, but the law lapsed 10 years later when it was not extended. </p> <p>Following its own horrific mass shooting, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her cabinet agreed to overhaul the country’s gun laws, adding her government will ban &quot;every semi-automatic weapon used in the terror attack&quot;.</p> <p>At least 50 Muslims were killed and as many injured when Australian-born Brenton Tarrant, 28, entered the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch and shot indiscriminately at those inside.</p> <p>Tarrant has been charged for the massacre and is being held at a maximum-security prison in Auckland. </p> <p>Among the victims were four children under the age of 18. Other children are still being treated at local hospitals for injuries they sustained during the attack.

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