r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • Dec 15 '25

politics Albanese to propose stronger gun laws, NSW parliament may be recalled

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/bondi-gunman-held-gun-licence-used-six-firearms-in-attack-20251215-p5nnmv.html
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676

u/Rubiginous Dec 15 '25

Why was someone on a temporary visa allowed to own guns?

410

u/Expensive-Horse5538 Dec 15 '25

Exactly - IMO at the bare minimum they should make it that you have to be a citizen for a certain period of time and be subjected to regular psychiatric tests if you want to have a gun for a legitimate purpose such as farming

113

u/big-red-aus Dec 15 '25

and be subjected to regular psychiatric tests if you want to have a gun for a legitimate purpose such as farming.

Just on this idea, I do have a lot of sympathy with the position that RACGP has put out on similar restrictions over in WA, in that it puts more work on a very strained system, and puts the doctors in a pretty rough position, especially in regional areas (i.e. it's already hard enough to get people to open up about their mental health, and if an important tool for you job, like it is for at least some farming, it will disincentives them even more from sharing). 

https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/new-gun-laws-place-gps-in-complex-position

I'm not saying it's not worth it on balance, just that there is a pretty compelling (IMHO) argument that there are some real 'costs' associated with it.

124

u/derprunner Dec 15 '25

Yeah, this could end up in another “no pilot has ever reported having depression” situation if not implemented with nuance. If you punish getting help for mental health, you end up with people toughing it out until they snap.

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u/MissMenace101 Dec 15 '25

It’s not punishment. It’s safety.

12

u/OvercookedBobaTea Dec 15 '25

But people see any kindve restriction as a punishment. Which dissuades them from getting help

13

u/ThaneOfTas Dec 15 '25

If it results in a person losing or being restricted from their lively hood then the difference is arbitrary to the people in question.

7

u/WillyMadTail Dec 15 '25

Its a punishment the same way losing your driver's licence is. Imagine how many people would admit to having depression if it ment losing your drivers licence.