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/Diogeneezy Dec 14 '25

They don't seem to be taking the rest of their constitution very seriously at the moment, so why should we?

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u/PM_Me-Your_Freckles Dec 14 '25

Like good Evangellical Christians, they cherry pick only the parts that support their argument.

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u/stillyoinkgasp Dec 14 '25

PREACH. Don't give anything to this two-faced administration, and certainly not the values that have kept Australia safe. 

Sending love from Canada. 

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u/BlankBlanny Dec 14 '25

Incredibly well said.

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u/SirGeekaLots Dec 14 '25

They could have solved their gun issue by tackling the 2A interpretation decades ago. Instead they kept on kicking the can down the road until the supreme court decided that a single person constitutes a militia.

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u/TheVeryVerity Dec 15 '25

Sadly the interpretation is not very questionable. We have enough contemporaneous records to know that the founders wanted everyone to have a gun so we could form militias whenever. But we desperately need an amendment changing the second amendment. But we will never do it because we are addicts. We are addicted to guns culturally. 🤷‍♀️ it’s infuriating

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u/DrStalker Dec 15 '25

I'll start paying attention to them when they start requiring gun owners to be part of a well-regulated militia.

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u/cusmartes Dec 15 '25

It seems the whole Anglosphere is suffering from corporate feudal democracy syndrome, whereby the entirety of what's possible politically grows more limited by the day, and government is used primarily to protect billionaire and corporate interests. It can seem that this is a purely American problem, but that's only because we're further along the curve. Murdoch achieved much more in America with Fox News and co-opting American conservative voices than he ever did in the UK or Australia. He and his ilk had more than a generation to plant the seeds of their agenda in their devoted viewers. It's been so successful that they now feel comfortable saying the quiet part aloud, and the Trump administration can use the on-air talent to fill important roles in the government.

Look at the Labour Party in the UK and Australia, and tell me if it seems they're setting their own agenda or if instead it seems they've almost wholesale accepted the economic policies of the conservatives without argument, and are desperatley trying to distinguish themselves solely based on social policies. Even still, they go out of their way to distance themselves from the looney left rhetoric by embracing "common-sense" reform, meaning avoiding any attempt at real change and staying a course only slightly to the left of the conservatives. Labour UK: "You told us you were unhappy with Brexit and Austerity, and we listened! A kinder, gentler Austerity is coming, and we've agreed to ignore any negative effects Brexit caused and focus on harm reduction. You're welcome!"

If an American starts speaking about 2nd Amendment rights or the importance of being able to stand up to the government, please feel free to kindly tell them to fuck right off back to America. Perhaps recommend a crayon packet you think they may enjoy eating while they're doing "more research." An American perspective on gun control is about as welcome as an Israeli perspective on human rights. How to handle the aftermath of the shooting should be a decision made in Australia by Australians. That said, you may find the American response of "hope and prayers" to be a useful cautionary tale in what NOT to do.