Sydney's Gun Problem: A Closer Look at Firearm Ownership
Sydney's suburbs are home to a surprising number of firearms. The top 100 gun license holders in New South Wales (NSW) collectively own over 13,000 guns. Many of these weapons are located in metropolitan areas, raising questions about gun control and safety.
Aftermath of the Bondi Attack
Following a recent terrorist attack in Bondi, which resulted in 15 deaths, including a 10-year-old girl, the NSW Premier, Chris Minns, has promised to review the state's firearm laws. One of the attackers, who was killed by police, had a gun license and owned six weapons. This incident has sparked a debate about who should be allowed to own guns and how many they should be permitted to have.
Firearm Distribution in NSW
Data from the NSW firearms registry reveals that about a third of the state's approximately 1 million firearms are located in major cities. The local government areas of Penrith, Hawkesbury, Canterbury-Bankstown, and Blacktown have the highest number of firearms in Sydney. These areas are also among the most populated in the state, which raises concerns about the concentration of guns in densely populated regions.
National Firearm Agreement Review
The prime minister has stated that national cabinet has resolved to take strong action on gun law reform. This includes renegotiating the National Firearms Agreement, which was established after the 1996 Port Arthur mass shooting. Changes being considered include:
- Limiting the number of firearms one person can own
- Ensuring that firearm licenses can only be held by Australian citizens
- Limiting open-ended firearms licensing
Resistance from the Gun Lobby
The impending crackdown on licensed firearm owners is expected to face resistance from the gun lobby in NSW. Minns has indicated that he wants to make access to guns more difficult for those not involved in primary industries. He has also stated that he wants to make sure any reform "makes a big difference."
The Bondi Gunmen
The alleged Bondi gunmen have been identified as father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram. Naveed, 24, was taken to hospital under police guard. Sajid, 50, was shot dead by police. The latter held a "category A/B" license, which entitled him to possess long arms like those used in the attack. Basic explosive devices were also found at the scene.
Calls for Reform
The Greens' NSW justice spokesperson, Sue Higginson, has stated that there is a "frightening concentration of guns in the outer suburbs of Sydney" that needs to be confronted. She has also questioned how a young man who came to the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) for his association with terrorism was able to have a father who obtained a gun license and registered six firearms.
Criticism of National Firearm Register
In the wake of the shooting, the Australian Federal Police Association president, Alex Caruana, has criticized the slow progress on the national firearm register that was promised after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 and is still yet to be delivered. He has also questioned whether a robust national database would have allowed police to better assess the risk posed by Naveed and his father given their access to licensed weapons.
