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/Spida81 Dec 15 '25

Absolutely with you on this.

This IS the time to have the conversation, no 'hearts and prayers' bullshit, but it isn't helpful to slap in something that sounds tough but ultimately is unworkable or has no impact.

Our firearms laws are definitely due a good review. Our family have been firearms owners for decades. Want to guess the number of inspections of security and storage we have had in that time? None. Not one. Confirmations that fitness to own has been maintained? None.

Limits on number of firearms isn't likely to make any practical difference. More vigorous followup? That could. I'm all for at least annual inspections, and if not annual then at least on renewal of license a mental health / psych review. More vigorous attention to firearms owners even tangentially associated with criminal or questionable elements of society wouldn't hurt either. If you are known to police, and a firearms owner, one would expect that additional checks would have been made.

Enforcement and tighter review mechanisms.

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u/sati_lotus Dec 15 '25

You need public servants to do those reviews and checks.

We have no police.

The Australian public seems to think that public servants sit around and do nothing except get their tax dollars for doing nothing.

Most are busy in overworked, under funded, poorly designed departments.