New Zealand Collects Over 10,000 Firearms From Buyback Program.br Following a mass shooting in March in the br city of Christchurch, a ban was placed on br military-style semi-automatic weapons.br The incident at two mosques committed by a lone gunman br left 51 people dead.br Those who possessed newly banned weapons have since been ordered to br sell them back to the government.br Since the buyback program started br last month, approximately br 10,242 firearms have been collected.br According to 'The Guardian,' those who possess a weapon that is now banned have until December 20 to give it up.br Failure to do so could result in a br prison sentence of up to five years.br Up to 1.