Following the 14th of December tragic incident that took the lives of 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia has decided to revise its gun laws. The National Cabinet, called in by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who promised quick reforms to close the opened loopholes that were exploited by the shooter Sajid Akram, agreed on a complete overhaul of gun control regulations in the country.
Prime Minister Albanese said after consulting the National Cabinet that the government would comprehensively reform the firearms laws. Among the reforms, the government aims to introduce a national firearms registration system resting on smart technology for real-time data sharing between police forces. Also, a six-month moratorium on weapon alterations throughout Australia is enforced, besides regulations for firearm dealers and stricter mental health requirements for gun owners.
The central changes
The Cabinet unanimously decided that changes to gun licensing would be the focus of their efforts. Only Australian citizens would be allowed to possess guns, with limitations on the number of firearms people may have, as well as the requirement of intelligence checks for the police. The interval between license renewals will serve to unearth the danger of being influenced by extremism, thus providing a solution to the problem of the fact that Akram had been able to remain undetected for ten years in this regard. NSW is already implementing a detailed and complete firearms register on the local level, which is part of the national scheme. This will come with a ban on specific types of weapons and prevention of 3D gun prints by shipping inspection.
Major Gun Retrieval Program
On December 18, Anthony Albanese declared a gun removal campaign as significant as the one held after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. It will be focused on the removal of the excess firearms which are the source of public dangers and also the reduction of those in street circulation.
There are plans for the enactment of gun regulations into law by various state parliaments, e.g. NSW, and actual implementation by the last day of the year. This reflects the success of the initiative, which led to a dramatic reduction in the incidence of mass shootings after the Port Arthur event across Australia.
Future
Allegedly, monitoring Akram and his son amid ASIO suspicion, the tragic event stresses the importance of thoroughness. Mr. Albanese announced that the federal government would apply “any necessary measures” intertwining federal inspection and state cooperation. By overcoming the trauma with courage, Hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed’s story plays the role of a catalyst for change, helping Australia to become even safer for the public spirit to thrive once more.
