Halle Coleman
Staff Writer
Another mass shooting has occurred in 2019. Fifty people were killed while 50 others were wounded in a terrorist attack taking place at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 15, 2019.
According to CNN, the first attack took place around 1:30 p.m. at al Noor mosque. A 17 minute Facebook live video showing the attack was actually streamed. The stream went unreported as it happened, despite having approximately 200 viewers. In the video, a man is seen driving through the streets and arriving at the mosque. Upon arrival, he is shown opening fire on the mosque and returning to his vehicle to re-arm himself.
While driving away, the shooter also opened fire on several pedestrians who were walking alongside the street. Facebook recieved a large amount of scrutiny for failing to remove the horrific video. It was viewed 4,000 times and copied onto an alt-right website before being removed and hashed.
The second attack began at Linwood mosque shortly after. This attack was less deadly than the first, killing seven people on the spot with another later dying at the hospital.
Weapons and explosive devices were found at both locations.
Brenton Tarrant is the only person linked to the attack in custody. Three other suspects who were initially detained have been ruled as not being involved in the attacks, but are still under supervision.
Tarrant allegedly emailed an 87-page manifesto to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden prior to the first attack. In this manifesto Tarrant included anti-immigrant anti-muslim slurs. It also included an explanation for the attacks.
It was revealed that Tarrant obtained the guns used for the attack legally. Tarrant obtained his gun license in November of 2017 and began buying guns in December. Prime Minister Ardern reported that police recovered two semi-automatic weapons, two shotguns, and one lever-action firearm at the scene.
CNN also reported that Tarrant appeared in Christchurch district court Saturday March 16. He is currently being charged with one count of murder. During his appearance he remained silent as he was surrounded by officers, but made a hand gesture associated with white supremacy. If convicted, Tarrant will only face the maximum penalty of life imprisonment because the death penalty is not used in New Zealand.
BBC interviewed Tarrant’s former state-appointed lawyer, Richard Peters.
Peters stated, “Mr. Tarrant has indicated he 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.”
Tarrant is scheduled to re-appear in court April 5.
Arden announced Saturday in a news conference that New Zealand’s gun laws would change as a result of the attack.
MeKyra Smith, a sophomore biology pre-pharmacy major from Greenville, Miss. is supportive of New Zealand’s speedy decision to change their guns laws and wishes the United States would do the same.
She states, “When you see that other countries changes their laws so quick after something so massive occurs, there should be a wave of the same behavior for the United States and other countries as well.”
She continued by stating, “Our government still refuses to change their gun laws. People have even been shot during church services and prayers. It shouldn’t take as many incidents like that to happen when so many people lose their lives.”
Ameera El’Amin-White, a sophomore computer engineering major from Atlanta, Ga. agrees with Smith, but believes it is more of a racial issue.
“If America really cared about its people something would have been done,” she stated, “Black people have been getting killed for decades and when some white kids get shot, it’s a problem.”
The families of the victims continue to mourn their loved ones after this heinous crime. Thousands of people have been gathering at the mosques to remember the victims.
