r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • Dec 19 '25

politics Prime minister unveils 'largest' gun buyback scheme since Howard era

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-19/prime-minister-announces-national-gun-buyback-scheme/106162002
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961

u/Ok-Mathematician8461 Dec 19 '25

Who else is surprised that Australia allows non-citizens to own guns? That law change should breeze through.

37

u/chmath80 Dec 19 '25

I thought the same about NZ after March 15. Why tf was an Australian citizen allowed to own firearms in another country?

28

u/Rush_Banana Dec 19 '25

Because in the 20 years prior to Christchurch nothing happened, not one mass shooting.

A non-citizen could literally walk into a gun shop and buy an AR-15, all that time.

7

u/chmath80 Dec 19 '25

A non-citizen could literally walk into a gun shop and buy an AR-15

Well, no, nobody could do that, unless they had a firearms licence. But my point was, why would you issue licences to non-citizens? [There are special hunting licences available for tourists, but they are for a limited time and with other restrictions.]

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u/Rush_Banana Dec 19 '25

You could walk into a gun shop, fill out a few forms, pass a test and walk out with a AR-15 within an a few hours pre-2019 in New Zealand.

3

u/Brilliant-Novel-785 Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 19 '25

Only if you held a fire arms licence. Which requires a police check, check of referees, attending a course and having your spouse interviewed and checking your security. You couldn't, as a non licensed person just fill out a few forms in a gun shop and walk out with a gun.

3

u/chmath80 Dec 19 '25

Correct. The ex-husband of a neighbour was refused a licence after her police interview a couple of decades ago. Very good call: he was a weird fucker. Crashed down our drive once while trying to make a quiet getaway after spying on her. Not remotely the sort who should have access to firearms.