Are Australia’s Gun Laws Failing After the Bondi Beach Shooting?
Synopsis
A supporter of gun control claims that Australia's firearm regulations have been diluted since the reforms following the Port Arthur massacre and that the Bondi Beach shooting revealed loopholes. Roland Browne challenged the necessity for any Sydney resident to possess guns and described background checks as ineffective. Currently, over 4 million guns are owned by civilians, in Australia, an increase of 25 per cent compared to 1996. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the cabinet will consider tougher gun laws on Monday including limits on how many guns a person can own and regular licence reviews
A supporter of gun control argues that Australia's stringent firearm regulations have been diluted following changes made after the Port Arthur massacre and states that the Bondi Beach shooting has revealed flaws in the legislation. Roland Browne of Gun Control Australia questioned the necessity for residents in Sydney to possess several guns and stated that the "fit and proper person" assessment had not worked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that the cabinet will review gun laws.
Advocate Warns: Port Arthur Reforms Are Being Undermined
The Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania in 1996 resulted in 35 deaths and 23 injuries. At that time, it was the mass shooting globally. In response to the tragedy, the federal, state and territory governments prohibited automatic rifles and implemented the National Firearms Agreement, which included a large-scale buyback initiative.
Roland Browne, vice-president of Gun Control Australia, has championed changes to gun legislation since 1987. He stated the Bondi shooting revealed a "flaw in the evaluation procedure" regarding how the shooters obtained multiple guns and licenses. "It is utterly baffling why anyone would require six firearms in Sydney," he remarked.
Browne mentioned that the 1996 objective was for every firearm a shooter desires to have a justification, and obtaining a second or additional guns should be more difficult. "That appears to have failed, considering people, in the suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne, or other parts of Australia, can possess several guns," he stated.
Data from The Australia Institute released this year revealed that civilians across the country now possess over 4 million firearms, which is 25 per cent more than in 1996. The Sporting Shooters Association responded by stating that this increase is lower than the 48 per cent population growth during the timeframe. They noted that although firearm ownership increased, the rates of homicides and suicides involving guns have decreased.
The Arms Employed in the Assault Provoke Issues
Authorities have yet to verify the types and models of firearms involved in Sunday's assault. However, Browne mentioned that they seemed to be firearms, rifles and shotguns, equipped with magazines intended for quick firing.
Browne stated that close-up images of the shooter revealed a firearm resembling the Beretta BRX1. "The quick reload indicates it uses a magazine. This weapon functioned precisely as advertised," he stated.
The firearm was likely a Category B weapon, for licensing based on reasons like "recreational hunting" or target shooting. The 1996 agreement highlights four firearm categories when differentiating rifles, which discharge bullets, from shotguns, which use cartridges filled with pellets.
Category A pertains to powered firearms, typically single-shot rifles and shotguns. Category B comprises shotguns with power and repeating rifles. Category C is quite strict, encompassing powered semi-automatic rifles and semi-automatic or pump-action shotguns holding up to five rounds. Category D is the strictest, designated for style fully automatic rifles and semi-automatic shotguns, with capacities exceeding five rounds.
The majority of sporting shooters hold an A and B licence, with a small number acquiring a Category C or D firearm. According to the National Firearms Agreement, anyone applying for a firearms licence must complete a police " proper person" assessment.
Browne faulted the Abbott administration for permitting the Adler lever-action shotgun entry into Australia ten years arguing it violated the essence of the National Firearms Agreement. "This was a technology as it enabled lever-action firearms to be reloaded at a much faster pace," Browne stated.
Push for Tougher Laws After Bondi Attack
In the announcements, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned that Monday's national cabinet meeting will consider stricter gun regulations, such as restrictions on the quantity of firearms an individual may possess or hold licenses for, along with the assessment of licenses.
In February of this year, Robert Borsak, an MP from the NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party, proposed firearm legislation aimed at easing restrictions and establishing a "right to hunt". John Howard, the prime minister, opposed the legislation, asserting that the NSW government should dismiss it "in any form". Earlier in the year, he shared with the ABC that any amendments would weaken the National Firearms Agreement. "I simply don’t want anything that would undermine what has been an effective initiative," he remarked.
Walter Mikac, who lost his wife Nanette and two young daughters, Alannah and Madeline, in the Port Arthur tragedy, opposed the NSW proposals. As the founder of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Mikac stated: "After Port Arthur, Australia pledged to prioritise community safety and that promise is still as crucial today as it was then". He stated, "This serves as a reminder of the necessity to remain alert against violence and highlights the crucial role of maintaining gun laws that safeguard the well-being of every Australian."
Browne mentioned that a goal of the National Firearms Agreement was to stop Australia from adopting America's firearm culture. "We are observing indications of that deterioration, and it must be stopped," he stated. "Stricter gun regulations must be implemented across all states and territories, led by the government."
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