Australia Announced It Will Launch Its Largest Gun Buyback In 29 Years After The Bondi Beach Shooting
Albanese said that authorities in Australia’s states and territories will be tasked with collecting the weapons and the Federal police will then be responsible for destroying them.
Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia's largest gun buyback scheme since 1996 after two gunmen killed 15 people in a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
In 1996, authorities swiftly banned most semi-automatic rifles and shotguns and launched an even larger gun buyback scheme for civilians after a mass shooting in Port Arthur killed 35 people.
On Sunday, Dec. 14, two gunmen, a father and a son, opened fire on a Jewish gathering for the Chanukah by the Sea event to celebrate the start of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah.
The attack killed 15 people, including one of the gunmen and injured at least 40 others.
Authorities said the father had a valid gun license and legally owned six guns, while the son did not have a gun license.
Police have declared the incident a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.
One of the gunmen was disarmed by a civilian, 43-year-old Ahmed El Ahmed, a father of two and a local fruit shop owner, according to Australia’s Seven News.
Albanese convened an emergency National Cabinet meeting and proposed tougher gun laws, which all state leaders agreed to, including limits to gun ownership, periodic reviews of licenses and stronger checks and balances.
Australia already has one of the strictest gun laws in the world.
Under the new laws, Australians seeking to own a gun must pass a safety course, a written test, a practical assessment and a background check.
They must also show a valid reason for owning a gun, with self-defense not considered a valid reason.
During a press conference on Friday, Dec. 19, Albanese said the government will also “establish a national gun buyback scheme to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms.”
Albanese said that authorities in Australia’s states and territories will be tasked with collecting the weapons and the Federal police will then be responsible for destroying them.
Albanese also declared that Sunday will be a national day of reflection when Australians will pause for a minute of silence and light a candle at 6:47 pm local time to honor the victims of the attack.
Sofia Hou
Cherry Mohamed
