New Zealand lawmakers pass initial vote for new gun controls
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New Zealand lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly in favor of new gun control measures during the first stage of a bill they hope to rush into law by the end of next week.
The bill would ban the types of weapons a gunman used to kill 50 people at two mosques last month.
Only one lawmaker from the 120 that sit in Parliament voted against the legislation in a bipartisan display of unity. Tuesday's vote was the first of three that lawmakers must pass before the bill becomes law.
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Police Minister Stuart Nash said far too many people have access to dangerous firearms and that in New Zealand gun ownership remains a privilege, not a right.
Conservative lawmaker David Seymour voted against the bill, saying it was too rushed.