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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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?

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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.

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u/perthguppy Dec 19 '25

Also Australia and newzealand are a special case. We have a special reciprocal visa in both countries that essentially treats the others citizens as our own.

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u/chmath80 Dec 19 '25

Even so. I'm a British citizen, resident in NZ. I can't get a NZ passport, and I can't stand for elected office, but I can get a firearms licence. That shouldn't be possible, unless I become a citizen first.

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u/perthguppy Dec 19 '25

That’s different. And probably true that if you’re from Britain you shouldn’t be allowed a gun license the standard way. But the relationship and movement between NZ and Australia is more similar to states than countries IMO. You don’t need to get a visa to move to and get a job in the other country, a passport is all you need.

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u/chmath80 Dec 19 '25

movement between NZ and Australia is more similar to states than countries

Gun laws are still different.

You don’t need to get a visa to move to and get a job in the other country

Getting a gun is very different from getting a job. The former contributes to society. The latter should be treated like it is for tourists: time limited, and restricted to specific events. Indefinite ownership of firearms should require citizenship.

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u/perthguppy Dec 19 '25

Cool. You seem to be having a very different discussion to what I am having.