Sure, because banning assault riffles is going to stem the hate. I applaud the effort but the assault riffle didn't become sentient and start attacking people. It took a hateful group of people to carry out these attacks. If we were talking about an Islamic extremist attack there would be far less pivoting to a discussion on gun control. In short, no hate = no attacks; no weapons then maybe it will be a bit harder but there will still be plenty attacks.

I am pro gun control but it is a little known fact that gun control was quite strict in 1930s Germany during the rise of the Nazi party. The point is that hate leads to mass death not weapons. If it wasn't an assault rifle it would have been a series of home made explosives and small arms, or 3D printed weapons, or a gang with swords and bats blocking exits. Stop the hate, don't pivot.

The New Zealand government should mandate anti-bias, anti-hate, diversity training for all government and private employees. Once per year, since there is virtually no education on the topic. Many people get bitter when they hare to take such training. I mean would the government let people get into a car without any training but people are allowed to hurt other with their bias and bigotry. Its a fact it happens. So why not try to stem it. Instead we pivot to gun control as if that is going to remove all hate and stop the problem.