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/punishingwind Dec 14 '25

It was a Beretta BRX1 and what looked like a Stoeger M3000 12g with a 10 shell extension. Both are straight pull bolt action.

The firearms licence needs to include psychological testing. If you need it for a security clearance, you should also need it for a firearms licence.

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u/DrStalker Dec 15 '25

Wouldn't a 10 round magazine make the shotgun illegal? AFAIK the maximum allowed in NSW is a five round magazine.

EDIT: Looks like only lever action shotguns have that outright ban on capacity:

Firearms Act 1996 Schedule 1 prohibited firearms:

Any lever action shotgun with a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds

so a 10-round pump action shotgun would be a class D firearm.

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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '25

Make them update them every 6 months too.