Even New Zealand must be eternally vigilant
- The Christchurch mosque massacre gunman has become the first person in New Zealand given the maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole. While the tragedy brought about changes to gun laws and a buy-back, firearms remain embedded in an outdoors society that has one registered rifle for every four people
The inhuman cruelty of the atrocity united New Zealand behind shared values. The evil ideology revealed in Tarrant’s white supremacist manifesto alerted people everywhere to the threat of the global spread of right-wing nationalism and extremism.
Tarrant’s deadly rampage culminated in a four-day sentencing hearing in which 90 witnesses gave harrowing accounts. The process resonated with the rallying call for solidarity against bigotry and racism that followed the killings. High Court Justice Cameron Mander and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke for the nation and people everywhere.
Christchurch mosque shooter jailed for life without parole
“Your crimes are so wicked that even if you are detained until you die it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment and denunciation,” Mander told Tarrant. Ardern said Tarrant deserved a lifetime of “complete and utter silence”.
Such massacres prompt action rather than talk about stronger gun laws. After this one, New Zealand’s parliament legislated to restrict semi-automatic firearms and magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, and provided an amnesty and buy-back of such weapons. But guns remain embedded in an outdoors society that has one registered rifle for every four people.
More worryingly, innocent people, including children, were murdered because of their beliefs and who they were. Sadly, even a culturally diverse and multiracial nation as tolerant as New Zealand has to be constantly and eternally vigilant if its values are to prevail.