"National has been clear since this devastating attack that we support changes to our regime and that we will work constructively with the Government.
"We agree that the public doesn't need access to military-style semi-automatic weapons. National supports them being banned along with assault rifles."
It was a change of direction for National, which when in Government in 2017 decided against putting more restrictions on semi-automatic weapons.
Then-Police Minister Paula Bennett rejected 12 of a select committee's 20 recommendations to tighten gun controls on the grounds the proposed changes would unduly impact lawful gun owners, not criminals.
She said this week that was the decision at the time and there was no point in hindsight.
Tauranga MP and National Party leader Simon Bridges. Photo / File
"We're in unprecedented times right now."
Police Minister Stuart Nash said in 2017 that Bennett's decisions at the time had been "100 per cent" correct.
Bridges told the Bay of Plenty Times that 2017 was a different time and the Government was criticised for accepting even some of the recommended reforms.
He said "everything has changed" after the attacks in Christchurch.
Bridges said that since the shootings he had received hundreds of emails about guns, both from people who supported a ban on semi-automatic weapons and from those warning against a "kneejerk reaction".
He said the time would come for hard questions about gun control reform, the surveillance powers of Government security forces, and whether anything could have been done to prevent the tragedy - but not while people were still burying their loved ones.
Ways to give security forces more powers to monitor certain groups should be explored, as should how to combat online hate, he said.
He was concerned about the role of social media in the shooting, which was livestreamed on Facebook, and said change needed to happen.
"The big tech companies have a lot to answer for and their silence is deafening."
He wanted to see New Zealand's Government add its voice to the debates happening in the Australian, American and European governments about social media.
This afternoon Bridges was scheduled to attend Friday prayers at Tauranga Mosque then an evening vigil at the Sikh temple for victims of the attack.
He also planned to be at the Tauranga Multicultural Festival tomorrow.
