Here's how many guns were handed over in wake of New Zealand's assault weapon ban
CGTN
Police acting superintendent Mike McIlraith shows New Zealand lawmakers in Wellington on April 2, 2019, an AR-15 style rifle similar to one of the weapons a gunman used to slaughter 50 people at two mosques. New Zealand lawmakers on Tuesday 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.(AP Photo/Nick Perry)

Police acting superintendent Mike McIlraith shows New Zealand lawmakers in Wellington on April 2, 2019, an AR-15 style rifle similar to one of the weapons a gunman used to slaughter 50 people at two mosques. New Zealand lawmakers on Tuesday 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.(AP Photo/Nick Perry)

A staggering 50,000 guns were handed over to authorities in New Zealand's buyback program following a ban on assault weapons, the Associated Press reports. 

The government moved quickly to ban the most lethal semi-automatic weapons after 51 worshipers at two Christchurch mosques were killed by a single gunman on March 15. Police then launched the six-month-long program to buy the newly banned weapons. 

Provisional estimates indicated that 33,000 people returned 51,000 guns, while another 5,000 guns were turned in as part of a parallel amnesty, where owners could hand over firearms without questions and without compensation. 

Source(s): AP