The Australian government is advancing the largest "gun buyback" program in nearly three decades after a terrorist shooting at Bondi Beach claimed 15 lives. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that the number of guns in the country has risen above 1996 levels and plans are underway to tighten licensing and limit firearm ownership per individual.
The Australian government has officially announced a nationwide gun buyback program in response to the tragic mass shooting at Bondi Beach, the deadliest in decades in the country. This initiative is being compared in significance to the major gun law reforms triggered by the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which led to landmark global firearm legislation.
The tragic incident on Sunday, 14 Dec, occurred during a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 deaths and many injuries. Police have described it as a "terrorist act" motivated by Islamic State ideology.
The perpetrator, 24-year-old Navid Akram, faces 59 serious charges including 15 counts of murder and terrorism offenses. His father, Sajid, died at the scene.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese disclosed that Australia currently has more than 4 million firearms, a number exceeding that before the 1996 reforms. He stated, "We found that one of the terrorists held a valid firearms license and possessed six guns, despite living in a Sydney suburban area where there is no justification for such an arsenal."
The National Cabinet has agreed to strengthen gun control by implementing a buyback program for surplus, newly banned, and illegal firearms, which will be destroyed. The federal and state governments will share the costs equally.
Additionally, there will be limits on how many guns an individual can own, the abolition of lifetime licenses, and a new requirement that firearms license holders must be Australian citizens. The government is also accelerating the creation of a national firearms registry and improving law enforcement access to crime data.
Regarding developments today, 19 Dec, New South Wales police released seven men with extremist views arrested last Thursday in Liverpool. Authorities stated that, although no direct link to the Bondi Beach shooting has been found, these individuals exhibit risky behavior that could lead to violence. Police will continue close monitoring.
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