>You can buy and sell semi automatic rifles commonly referred to as "Assault rifles" in NZ as long as you hold an E category license. Once you turn 16 you can actually get a firearm license far more quickly than you can a driver's license, but unlike the US there's rigorous reporting including endorsement by current licensees and assessment of risk factors by specially trained police officers to determine whether you're a "fit and proper person". Police have access to the Ministry of Justice's *accurate* criminal records and their vetting includes a visit to your home for an interview and inspection of proposed storage arrangements, along with interviews of your licensed referees. You're unlikely to have a license granted or renewed if you have any risk factors, or even known association with unsavory characters. That means you can't possess firearms yourself, but you can still use them under supervision of somebody who is licensed.
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>Interestingly, offering "self protection" as a reason for wanting access to firearms is sufficient to see your application declined. Another important difference from the US.
>...

Thanks for that.
So, in NZ MSSA weapons are illegal, unless you have a license. In other words, in NZ people get it because they need it (and have to prove that, and that they're "fit and proper"), whereas in the US they get it because they can (period). In NZ they're available to properly vetted responsible individuals, whereas in the US they're legally available to anyone over the age of 16. I think that pretty much settles the NZ vs US argument.

>... If support is limited to "it's obvious" and "confusing-jargon-firearms are dangerous" then IMHO the current impetus for improvement in the US will be wasted.

Most are insistent on sensible gun control legislation. There is no cure-all at this point. A "ban" would be a reset from which a more sensible regulatory environment could be developed. The temporary ban that expired in 2004 was one missed opportunity.
Talking about the current impetus: things are already happening in Oregon https://www.ceasefireoregon.org/legislation/
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