Key Takeaways:
- The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, is recalling parliament to consider tougher gun laws in the wake of the Bondi beach terrorist attack.
- The proposed legislation includes limits on the number of guns each licence holder can own, with a possible limit of three guns per person.
- The government is also looking to strengthen the powers of police to reject firearms licences to individuals who may pose a security risk.
- The NSW government is reviewing whether recreational hunting should remain a legitimate reason for gun ownership.
- The proposed changes aim to keep Australians safe and prevent similar attacks in the future.
Introduction to Gun Law Reform
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has announced that he will recall parliament next week to consider tougher gun laws in the wake of the Bondi beach terrorist attack. The proposed legislation includes limits on the number of guns each licence holder can own, as well as other changes to allow police to block the issuing of gun licences to particular individuals. Minns stated that the current laws are not sufficient and that more needs to be done to keep Australians safe. The prime minister has also put gun law reform on the agenda at the national cabinet, indicating a bipartisan approach to addressing the issue.
Proposed Legislation
The proposed legislation includes a limit on the number of guns each licence holder can own, with a possible limit of three guns per person. Western Australia currently has a limit of five guns per person, but Minns believes this is too many. The government is also looking to strengthen the powers of police to reject firearms licences to individuals who may pose a security risk. This includes removing the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal as an appeal mechanism once a designation has been made about removing a licence. Additionally, the government is considering reclassifying straight shotguns and prohibiting belt-fed magazines in those shotguns.
Recreational Hunting and Gun Ownership
The NSW government is reviewing whether recreational hunting should remain a legitimate reason for gun ownership. Minns has stated that while hunting is an important cultural tradition for many people, it is not a right that should be enshrined in law. The government is considering the advice of experts, advocates, and survivors of gun violence, and may rule out recreational hunting as a genuine reason to own a firearm. This move has been supported by the Greens, who have campaigned for greater gun control.
Previous Support for Gun Rights
Minns’ stance on guns has not always been so firm. In the past, he has supported a private member’s bill that included a legislative right to hunt and a relaxation on the use of silencers and night vision goggles. However, after a major campaign by gun control advocates, Labor has progressively walked back its support for elements of the bill. The events of the Bondi beach terrorist attack have now doomed the bill to the dustbin, and Minns has stated that the government will not support any legislation that undermines gun control laws.
Police Firepower and Gun Control
Concerns have also been raised about the fact that NSW police were armed only with handguns during the Bondi beach terrorist attack. The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, has stated that he will listen to officers’ concerns about needing greater firepower as part of the review of the incident. However, this has raised concerns about the potential for increased militarization of the police and the impact on gun control laws. The government must balance the need to keep police officers and the community safe with the need to prevent the proliferation of guns and reduce the risk of gun violence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the New South Wales government is taking a strong stance on gun law reform in the wake of the Bondi beach terrorist attack. The proposed legislation includes limits on the number of guns each licence holder can own, as well as other changes to allow police to block the issuing of gun licences to particular individuals. The government is also reviewing whether recreational hunting should remain a legitimate reason for gun ownership and is considering the advice of experts, advocates, and survivors of gun violence. The aim of these changes is to keep Australians safe and prevent similar attacks in the future.
