Daily London
In the wake of the Bondi shooting, attention has been turned on Australia’s gun control laws, with federal and state governments pledging an overhaul of firearms legislation.
Following a meeting of the national cabinet yesterday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said leaders were committed to reforms over the number of guns that can be owned with a firearms licence, more reviews of Australians with those licences, and greater powers to law enforcement agencies.
NSW Police have confirmed that one of the alleged gunmen — Sajid Akram — had been a licensed firearms owner for 10 years and possessed six guns.
Australia’s current legislation stems from the National Firearms Agreement set up in 1996 after the Port Arthur massacre in which 35 people died.
While the guns used by the two alleged gunmen in the Bondi attack have not been named by authorities, it’s widely reported they included a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun.
Australians who want to use or own a gun must be in possession of a firearms licence or permit and pass a “fit and proper person” test.
Part of the licence application process includes undergoing a police background check and a mandatory course on firearms safety.
Under the 1996 legislation, rifles that fire bullets and shotguns that expel cartridges loaded with lead pellets are divided into four main categories.
Category A: Commonly single-shot rifles and shotguns with low power.
Category B: Higher powered firearms, including shotguns operated by “lever action” that can take up to five cartridges.
Category C: These weapons are more restricted and include self-loading rifles and shotguns, and also pump-action shotguns.
Licences are restricted to owners with a specified occupational interest or sporting purpose, such as pest control or clay target shooting.
Category D: The toughest controls cover these weapons, such as semi-automatic shotguns which hold more than five cartridges capacity, and semi-automatic rimfire rifles with a capacity of more than 10 rounds.
Since Sunday’s attack at Bondi, gun control advocates have repeated calls for firearms laws to be strengthened.
Gun Control Australia vice-president Roland Browne told Today this morning public safety had to be the priority.
“The balance needs to be strongly in favour of public health response by limiting … farmers, target shooters and people who use guns professionally to control animals,” he said.
Browne also called on the federal government to implement strict limits on the number of firearms people can have in their homes, and restrictions on owning guns in suburban and urban areas.
