Look to New Zealand for a real leader: Jacinda Ardern

Posted on November 17, 2019 by D. Posnett MD

Eleanor Ainge Roy in Christchurch writes in the Guardian: ’Real leaders do exist‘:

That was March 19, 2019. Remember?

Jacinda Ardern uses solace and steel to guide a broken nation. The 38-year-old prime minister has been tested like no other New Zealand leader before by the worst terrorist attack in the nation’s modern history.

While her leadership was spot on and has been applauded worldwide, I wondered at the time, how successful she would ultimately be, putting thru new gun control legislation.  New Zealand has its own lobby of gun enthusiasts, like the NRA.

I also wondered, why can’t the US produce political leaders of the same caliber.  Here is a follow up on this story.

September 12, 2019 / 11:49 PM.   New Zealand’s PM Ardern acts to tighten gun laws further, six months after the attack.
This is New Zealand’s second set of gun reforms after weak firearm laws were identified as a key reason why a suspected white supremacist was able to own semi-automatic weapons that he used to kill people gathered at two mosques for Friday prayers on March 15….
The government had near-unanimous support in parliament when it earlier passed a law banning military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) in the first round of reforms within weeks of the attack, New Zealand’s worst peace-time mass shooting. …
The new bill, details of which have already been made public and that will have its first reading on Sept. 24, will include the creation of a registry to monitor and track every firearm legally held in New Zealand.

As by Nov 2019, we have encouraging reports on a gun buyback:

More Than 32,000 Prohibited Guns Turned in, as New Zealand Buyback Deadline Approaches. By , o

 

Some have tried to analyse the paralysis on this issue in the US. For example:

US gun laws: Why it won’t follow New Zealand’s lead, by Anthony Zurcher North America reporter

Here is an example of where we stand in the USA:  November 12, 2019

A leading gun industry group is confident they will win. It believes the U.S. Supreme Court should have reviewed and dismissed a lawsuit against the maker of the rifle used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The National Shooting Sports Foundation says it’s disappointed that justices Tuesday allowed the lawsuit against Remington Arms to move forward in a Connecticut court but is confident the company will prevail at trial.

SCOTUS has ruled twice to protect a very expansive and lax interpretation of the 2nd amendment, in particular, relative to the “well regulated” in

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

So I am not too optimistic in regard to the lawsuit against Remington Arms.

What about our current crop of Dem. presidential hopefuls? According to Politico and update

 

In favor of a gun licensing program: Booker, Buttigieg, Williamson, Yang

Cory Booker 2020 election candidate Peter Buttigieg 2020 election candidateMarianne Williamson 2020 election candidateAndrew Yang 2020 election candidate

Also: Jay Inslee, John Hickenloper, and Beto O’Rourke who have dropped out

In favor of a national firearm registry: Steyer

Thomas Steyer 2020 election candidate

Also: Eric Swalwell, who has dropped out.

 

Most of the other candidates (16) are “still deciding” according to this October 15th 2019 report.  See comments section regarding updated info!

 

Contrast this with Jacintha Ardern!

About D. Posnett MD

Emeritus Prof. of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
This entry was posted in Guns, NRA, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Look to New Zealand for a real leader: Jacinda Ardern

  1. bcolbath42 says:
    November 17, 2019 at 6:25 pm

    Updated info regarding their gun-control plans:

    Warren: https://www.npr.org/2019/08/10/749946102/elizabeth-warrens-new-plan-on-guns-has-a-goal-reduce-gun-deaths-by-80
    Kamala Harris: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/22/us/politics/kamala-harris-gun-control.html
    Amy Klobuchar: https://medium.com/@AmyforAmerica/turning-ideas-into-action-senator-klobuchar-on-gun-violence-57fb7bc94d67

    A more effective deterrent to gun violence is strong red flag laws that would enable law enforcement to confiscate guns from those who should not have them. Such an approach would not incite the revolt a gun licensing proposal would.

    Reply
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