Bondi Beach Shooting Spurs Call for Stricter Gun Laws

Sydney, Australia – December 15, 2025: In the wake of a deadly attack targeting Jewish people at Bondi Beach, Australian leaders have called for tougher gun regulations to prevent future tragedies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced proposals to limit the number of firearms a licensed owner can acquire and to review existing licenses over time.

Albanese described the Bondi Beach attack as an act of antisemitic terrorism, stating, “The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary, including the need for tougher gun laws.” Authorities confirmed that the older of the two suspected gunmen, a father who has held a gun license for a decade, legally owned six firearms, including rifles and at least one shotgun, all of which were believed to have been used in the attack.

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Proposed Changes to Gun Licensing

Other government leaders proposed limiting gun ownership to Australian citizens, which would have excluded the older suspect, a permanent resident who migrated on a student visa in 1998. The suspect’s Australian-born son does not hold a gun license.

Officials are also considering using criminal intelligence reports to assess gun license eligibility. Albanese referenced a 2019 investigation into suspicious associates of the younger suspect, which, if applied, might have prevented the father from legally obtaining firearms.

Christopher Minns, Premier of New South Wales, indicated that state laws would also be updated, noting:

“It means introducing a bill to Parliament to make it more difficult to get these horrifying weapons that have no practical use in our community. If you’re not a farmer, why do you need these massive weapons?”

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Australia’s Historical Response to Gun Violence

Australia’s reaction to the Bondi Beach shooting is informed by its history of strict gun control following mass shootings. The country’s last major gun reform followed the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, in which 35 people were killed. Twelve days later, lawmakers passed legislation banning semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, requiring a 28-day waiting period, and implementing a nationwide mandatory gun-buyback program.

The 1996 reforms led to the confiscation and destruction of nearly 700,000 firearms and halved the number of gun-owning households. Former Prime Minister John Howard credited the legislation with dramatically reducing gun-related homicides and mass shootings.

“People used to say, ‘You violated my human rights by taking away my gun,'” Howard said. “I would respond: the greatest human right is to live a safe life without fear of random murder.”

Since the 1996 reforms, Australia has not experienced a single mass shooting comparable to Port Arthur, and gun homicides have fallen by nearly 60%.

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Challenges in Enforcing Gun Laws

Despite the 1996 reforms and subsequent National Firearms Agreement, studies indicate that some provisions remain unevenly enforced. Minors can still hold firearm licenses in certain states, a national firearms register is lacking, and overall gun ownership has increased over the past three decades, with over four million registered privately owned guns nationwide.

The Australia Institute, a leading think tank, called for stronger enforcement and modernization of gun laws, emphasizing the need for legislation that matches the political bravery of the Howard government in 1996.

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Moving Forward: Strengthening Public Safety

The Bondi Beach shooting has reignited debates on public safety and firearm control in Australia. Proposed reforms aim to:

• Limit the number of firearms an individual can own
• Restrict gun ownership to Australian citizens
• Incorporate criminal intelligence in license approvals
• Strengthen state-level firearm regulations

Prime Minister Albanese and state leaders are expected to introduce legislative proposals in the coming months to tighten regulations on semi-automatic and other high-risk firearms.

Australia’s response underscores the nation’s commitment to learning from past tragedies and ensuring that firearms laws adequately protect public safety.