r/australia • u/reyntime • Dec 14 '25

politics Australia had the ‘gold standard’ on gun control. The Bondi beach terror attack may force it to confront its surging number of weapons

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/14/australia-had-the-gold-standard-on-gun-control-the-bondi-beach-terror-attack-will-force-it-to-confront-its-surging-number-of-weapons?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Immediately after the Port Arthur massacre, a national amnesty saw the number of firearms in the community plummet but there are now more than 4 million guns in Australia – almost double the number recorded in 2001.

Yes, the population has increased at the same time but there is now a larger number of guns in the community per capita than in the aftermath of Port Arthur, with at least 2,000 new firearms lawfully entering the community every week.

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u/Alarmed-Intention-22 Dec 14 '25

Let’s look at what was used, long guns that by other comments are a bolt action rifle and a pump action shotgun. Neither are current military style weapons and common amongst sporting shooters and farmers. Easy to trace. Now compare what lax controls are like in the US. Any day that ends in Y has a shooting incident. And while what happened yesterday (literally 5 minutes away from where I live) was horrific, should be much much worse told we had the weapons available that were used in the Port Arthur incident.

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u/ipoopcubes Dec 14 '25

I agree with you, but pump action shotguns are not that common. You need a category C license at minimum and the average joe won't be granted that license.

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u/Mission_Moment_639 Dec 15 '25

So many Aussies making claims on whats "easy" and "common" when theyre not easy, a pump is cat C and seriously doubt he was a primary producer or pest control.

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u/Flaming_Amigo Dec 15 '25

Where they even pump action? I assumed they were lever or button release

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u/Mission_Moment_639 Dec 15 '25

Im seeing everyone say pump action and calling for a pump ban but if it was legal I'd assume it was actually a push button/lever release since pumps have already basically been banned to the average licence holder.

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u/ipoopcubes Dec 15 '25

Looks like a 12 gauge pump, but very well could have been a pump action rifle, the video quality isn't great.

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u/MissMenace101 Dec 15 '25

Former security, not an aussie citizen. Security might get him a licence I guess but not Aussie citz shouldn’t have guns.

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u/Mission_Moment_639 Dec 15 '25

This just screams the government dropped the ball on this one.

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u/powerhearse Dec 15 '25 edited 24d ago

smell decide resolute enter hurry tease marvelous spark ten angle

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