Gun owners face limits on the number of weapons they can own and only Australian citizens would be able to hold a licence, prime minister says
Gun owners face limits on the number of weapons they can own and only Australian citizens would be able to hold a licence, prime minister says
Gun owners face limits on the number of firearms they can hold and licences would only be issued to Australian citizens under tougher new controls to be considered nationwide after the Bondi beach massacre.
State leaders agreed to strengthen gun laws across the country after Anthony Albanese convened a urgent meeting of national cabinet on Monday afternoon following the worst terrorist attack in Australian history.
The attack at the Chanukah by the Sea celebration on Sunday night was Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since Port Arthur in 1996, which prompted the Howard government to introduce some of the strictest gun control laws in the world.
“The Howard government’s gun laws have made an enormous difference in Australia and a proud moment of reform, quite rightly, achieved across the Parliament with bipartisan support. If we need to toughen these up, if there’s anything we can do, I’m certainly up for it,” the prime minister said ahead of the meeting.
National cabinet also pledged to “eradicate anti-semitism, hate, violence and terrorism”, as the prime minister faced pressure from the federal opposition, Jewish leaders and his own anti-semitism envoy, Jillian Segal, to do more to stamp out acts of anti-Jewish hate.
At least 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed and more than 40 wounded after a father and son, Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, allegedly opened fire on the Hanukah celebration.
The older man was shot by police and died at the scene, while the 24-year-old suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
