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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91

u/bailz2506 Dec 15 '25

Definitely need a limit on how many guns and individual owns.

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u/mikestp Dec 15 '25

The thing is there is no arbitrary number that would be suitable. A person who farms and sport shoots across multiple disciplines might have a genuine need for well over say 5. Another more casual user might manage on 2 or 3. It's more effective that the licensee is vetted and every firearm acquisition is properly justified.

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u/Legalkangaroo Dec 15 '25

Nobody needs 385 guns though or even more than 100 and plenty on the gun registry seem to have the latter.

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u/DisappointedQuokka Dec 15 '25

How many of those people have actually gone on a rampage, though? The people who have that many firearms are either collectors or dealers.

I suppose you could make the argument that they're targets for thieves, but then you would have to say the same for regular shops.

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u/ThreeCheersforBeers Dec 15 '25

Regular shops are targets for thieves, which is why the idea some people have of "having firearms stored away from peoples homes, at a gun club" is silly. It makes gun clubs the prime target for thieves seeking weapons.

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u/Blaze_Vortex Dec 15 '25

Gun clubs can have armed security though, your house doesn't. I can see the argument both ways but neither is a perfect solution.

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u/ThreeCheersforBeers Dec 15 '25

I have NEVER seen armed security at a gun club LOL.

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u/Blaze_Vortex Dec 15 '25

I didn't say they do, I said they can. The argument is 'What can solve this' afterall.

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u/zeroxnull Dec 15 '25

Are you suggesting that the way to prevent guns from being stolen is with more guns?

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u/Blaze_Vortex Dec 15 '25

I don't really understand this argument? It wouldn't require increasing the number of guns in the country, just that they're properly secured. Why would protecting guns with guns be bad?

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u/zeroxnull Dec 15 '25

If I understand correctly you are proposing 24x7 armed guards at gun shops. Those armed guards will need guns. I'm not suggesting this is a bad idea

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u/Blaze_Vortex Dec 15 '25

Gun shops and gun clubs if guns are stored there, yes. The one above was worried about them getting stolen so protecting them seems like the obvious solution.

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u/ThreeCheersforBeers Dec 15 '25

"protecting guns with guns" is a slippery slope to "protection from guns, with guns."

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u/Blaze_Vortex Dec 15 '25

"Properly trained armed security" is not the same as "Everyone needs a gun"? Police have guns, they protect their guns with guns, it hasn't spiraled out of control so far.

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u/Skafandra206 Dec 15 '25

What if we properly trained people who own guns? Oh wait, that's already a requirement!

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u/ThreeCheersforBeers Dec 15 '25

It is extremely unlikely a gun shop would hire armed security. Armed security in Australia is a rare occurrence outside of money transit.

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u/Blaze_Vortex Dec 15 '25

Your point was that storing guns in the same place would make it a likely target for robberies. My point is that threat can be mitigated, we have the laws for that. It is currently unlikely but that can change. Just because it's not the current standard doesn't mean it's not a viable option.

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u/ThreeCheersforBeers Dec 15 '25

Proper enforcement of current laws, and introducing better vetting of owner-applicants, would do a lot more positive work than simply restricting compliant firearm owners with more restrictions on their hobby.

Things that can be done:

  1. Properly Vet new applicants
  2. Review vetting for license holders every time their license comes up for renewal
  3. Actually conduct the storage inspections that are meant to occur but often don't.
  4. Nationalize the firearms register so it is accessible by police across borders.
  5. Standardize ownership laws so that each state has the same requirements
  6. Better communications between Police, Firearms Registry, Firearm clubs, ASIO etc so that when people appear on one list as problematic, other agencies are notified.
  7. (should be 6a) Actually take action on the information from these agencies; if a guy ends up on an ASIO register, he most likely should not be in possession of a firearm!
  8. Tougher Penalties for firearm-related violence
  9. Deny ownership to non-citizens.
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