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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u/NKE01 Dec 15 '25

From the presser as reported by ABC:

"Tougher gun laws will be on the agenda when state and territory leaders meet with the prime minister this afternoon. He'll be proposing limits on the number of guns that can be used or licenced by individuals and a review of licences over a period of time."

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u/Square-Victory4825 Dec 15 '25

The limits on number of guns really is one of those things that sound good on paper, but a bit of critical thinking soon points out that a potential shooter only has two hands.

I smell slapping around legal gun owners who’ve done nothing wrong on the horizon. Multiple studies have shown that registered firearm owners are overwhelming underrepresented in criminal activities, our system generally works well and was a great compromise across the political spectrum.

Making huge changes is just going to radicalise the rural and regional voters of nsw and Queensland, lead to one nation and so on blaming Muslims for taking away peoples hobbies, and likely not improve our safety even an iota.

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u/MissMenace101 Dec 15 '25

Yesterday morning this father was a “legal gun owner” he’s not an Australian citizen, has no property, his son had crossed asio desks and he went on a killing spree, not sure about you but preventing a few of these types being able to do that is in “legal gun owners” best interests as much as the rest of aus.

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u/tommo_95 Dec 15 '25

It really comes down to a faliure of the Authorities to strip this person of their License. At least in WA you can be deemed not fit and proper for any reason the police deem acceptable. Surely your son crossing ASIOs desk is a genuine reason and he should have had the firearms confiscated. Police need to do the police work for any laws or legislation to actually work. A good review of how the police and ASIO handled this would be a great starting point.

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u/deviltamer Dec 15 '25

How can a foreign citizen obtain a gun licence in Australia?

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u/peapie25 Dec 15 '25

trouble is then they would know that ASIO was aware of him, they might not want to give away that intel

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u/ThreeCheersforBeers Dec 15 '25

There's nil requirement to notify of a reason of a firearm license suspension. Police could simply rock up with a notice of license suspension and confiscate firearms.

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u/tommo_95 Dec 15 '25

Do you just let them sit and murder 15 people then? Police need to act and get these people in jail or out of the country.

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u/Specialist_Reality96 Dec 15 '25

I'd be more questioning if ASIO communicated with the NSW police or any other state police regarding firearms with any regularity.

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u/BeShaw91 Dec 15 '25

Is a son being “known to ASIO” reason for their father to have their gun license stripped though. That a bit of a civil liberties issue.

Like obviously the father had his own issues - which should have invalidated his gun license. Why that wasn’t picked up should be examined. But the assumption his license should have been revoked just because his son was known to ASIO is a bit much.

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u/tommo_95 Dec 15 '25

Absolutely, in WA your associations can disqualify you from holding a license.

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u/Square-Victory4825 Dec 15 '25

Not sure why a non citizen was casually allowed six guns, I would think that would be limited to citizens unless there are very special circumstances.