Key Takeaways:
- The NSW government is considering removing recreational hunting as a "genuine reason" for owning guns in the state
- The move could reduce the number of gun licenses in NSW, but may face backlash from some shooters
- The government is also considering stricter controls on who can own guns, limits on the number of guns a person can have, and restrictions on guns being stored at home
- The opposition has expressed skepticism about the government’s rushed approach to introducing new gun laws
- The NSW Nationals are calling for exemptions for farmers and those living in regional NSW
Introduction to the Debate
The recent Bondi massacre has sparked a heated debate about gun laws in New South Wales, with the Greens, independent MPs, and gun safety advocates urging the Minns Labor government to remove recreational hunting as a "genuine reason" for owning guns. This move would dramatically reduce the number of gun licenses within NSW, but could cause backlash from some shooters. According to Greens MLC Sue Higginson, "New South Wales has a gun problem that we must now confront. We have over 1.1m guns in this state, more than there were prior to the Port Arthur massacre." Higginson believes that stricter controls on who can own guns, limits on the number of guns a person can have, and removing recreational hunting as a reason for owning guns are necessary to address the issue.
Proposed Reforms
Animal Justice Party MLC Emma Hurst and independent Alex Greenwich have circulated a 12-point plan, which includes removing recreational hunting as a reason for owning guns and restrictions on guns being stored at home, except if needed for work. They also want more controls on guns held by people flagged for domestic violence and have suggested that the family court should make a practice note or order that requires police to check the firearms registry and remove any firearms from the perpetrator. The Alannah and Madeline Foundation and the Australian Gun Safety Alliance (AGSA) have also put a 10-point plan to the premier, Chris Minns, who is expected to unveil the government’s plan for "the toughest gun laws in Australia" on the weekend.
Industry Response
Stephen Bendle, the convener of the AGSA, said that the category of "recreational hunting" had led to a proliferation of guns in the community and that it was possible to craft new rules which would still allow legitimate control of pests but improve safety. "Times have changed and the firearms industry can no longer dictate what the rest of us think about firearm safety," he said. The treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, said that the issue of who can hold a gun license was being worked through now, and whether it resulted in recreational hunting being dropped as a genuine reason for owning a gun was "an issue of detail".
Political Response
The shadow attorney general, Alister Henskens, expressed some skepticism about the government’s rushed approach to introducing new gun laws. "The opposition would like to work in a bipartisan way with the government on this important issue, but we have not yet seen any proposed legislation," he said. The leader of the NSW Nationals, Gurmesh Singh, said that he would want to see what exemptions will apply to farmers and those living in regional NSW. "This was a terrorist attack, fuelled by antisemitism. Tackling firearm issues alone won’t stop anti-Jewish terrorist attacks, only eradicating antisemitism will achieve this. We must not conflate these two areas of reform," he said.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The NSW parliament will be recalled on Monday and Tuesday to consider the urgent bill, which is expected to include changes such as limits on the number of guns a person can own, restrictions on magazines that extend the number of shots that can be fired from a shotgun, a citizenship requirement, and more stringent license renewals. While the government’s plan is still being finalized, it is clear that the debate around gun laws in NSW will continue to be a contentious issue. As the state grapples with the aftermath of the Bondi massacre, it remains to be seen whether the proposed reforms will be enough to address the complex issues surrounding gun ownership and safety in NSW.
