New Zealand Pledges Gun Control As Mosque ‘Gunman’ Sacks Lawyer

New Zealand will tighten gun laws in the wake of its worst
modern-day massacre, the government said Monday, as it emerged that
the white supremacist accused of carrying out the killings at two
mosques will represent himself in court.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her coalition was unified on
the need to reduce the availability of the kind of weapons used by
Brenton Tarrant as he went room to room shooting Muslims gathered
for Friday prayers.

“We have made a decision as a cabinet, we are unified,” she
said, flanked by her coalition partner and deputy prime minister,
Winston Peters.

Peters, whose New Zealand First party has previously opposed
changes, said he backed the prime minister fully.

“The reality is that after one pm on Friday our world changed
forever, and so will our laws,” he said.

Ardern, the youthful premier who has become the face of the
nation’s tragedy, said there would be an inquiry into the
horrifying attack, as questions swirl over whether intelligence
agencies should have spotted warning signs.

The role of social media has also come under the spotlight after
the gunman livestreamed his rampage on Facebook.

A teenager, whose name cannot be published, appeared in court
Monday charged with distributing that footage.

Meanwhile, police launched a probe into a bomb hoax that forced
an hours-long closure of the airport in Dunedin on Sunday, where
Tarrant lived.

Grief continued to wash across the nation Monday, with New
Zealanders of all stripes gathering to express revulsion over the
killings — and a unified front against racial hatred.

Family and friends outside Al Noor mosque — the scene of the
largest massacre — held a sunset prayer session, with their
mournful cries echoing through a park as locals looked on.

“It just happened to be the time of our evening prayer. Anywhere
you are, you can just pray anywhere,” Saiyad Raza, who had
travelled from Auckland to bury his cousin who died in the
shootings, told AFP.

Earlier, a Maori cleansing ceremony was performed at the mosque,
bringing together indigenous Kiwis, Muslim leaders, and local
officials.

Dozens of students then paid their respects, with many coming
together for a haka — a traditional Maori ceremonial dance that has
been performed by groups across New Zealand in the wake of
killings.

And in Auckland, students at Orewa College gathered to form a
heart and the message “Kia Kaha” — “stay strong” in Maori.

‘Nothing extraordinary’
The organisers of New Zealand’s largest gun show — the Kumeu
Militaria Show, near Auckland — announced Monday they had cancelled
the event in the wake of the massacre and because of “elevated
security risks”.

Despite having tightened the rules in the 1990s after the last
mass shooting, New Zealand has relatively permissive gun laws, with
licences granted to nearly every applicant.

David Tipple, the managing director of Gun City, whose online
store sold Tarrant four weapons, said he felt no responsibility for
the killings.

“We detected nothing extraordinary about this licence holder,”
he told reporters.

Tarrant, who appeared in court on Saturday charged with murder,
on Monday sacked his state-appointed lawyer.

Richard Peters, who represented the alleged killer during the
hearing, told AFP the 28-year-old “wants to be self-represented in
this case”.

“The way he presented was rational and someone who was not
suffering any mental disability. He seemed to understand what was
going on,” Peters said.

Under New Zealand law, if Tarrant pleads not guilty his case
would normally go to trial, raising the possibility that he could
face survivors and victims’ families in court.

Mustafa Farouk, president of the Federation of Islamic
Associations of New Zealand, told reporters he had faith in the
system.

“As a community, we would like that person to go through the
process, the due process, and to be given all his rights,” he
said.

“We believe in the justice system here and we know it will do
what is right.”

But, he cautioned, the attitudes that gave rise to the killing —
documented in a rambling, racist screed released online minutes
before the attacks began — must be tackled.

“This rise in hatred… by people who call themselves right-wing,
whether smaller groups or through reckless politicians, should not
be allowed to continue.”

Digging graves
Frustrated families of the 50 victims were still waiting Monday for
the release of the bodies of their loved ones, as officials worked
their way through a painstaking investigation.

Dozens of graves were being dug in readiness for that release,
which Police Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha said would hopefully
happen soon.

“The process has been highly emotional and stressful for all… as
in accordance with Islamic faith the families have wanted the
bodies to be returned as soon as possible,” he said.

“We have burial expert teams in place ready to receive the
bodies at a point in time.”

The dead span generations, aged between three and 77, according
to a list circulated among relatives.

Some victims came from the neighbourhood, others from as far
afield as Egypt. At least two of the dead came from the same family
— a father and son.

Delhi said Sunday that five of its nationals were killed, while
Pakistan said nine of its citizens were among the dead, including
one man who died trying to rush Tarrant.

Authorities said 31 people remained in hospital, nine in
critical condition.

Reigning Super Rugby champions Canterbury Crusaders, who play in
Christchurch, said Monday they would consider changing their name
after criticism that it was historically insensitive.

Distinctive writing on the mosque attacker’s weaponry included
the names of figures from the Crusades, the religious wars waged by
European Christians against Muslims for control of the Holy Land in
the Middle Ages.

AFP