Gun Ownership Frenzy: Aussies Rush to Beat Tougher Laws as Licence Applications Skyrocket 71% After Bondi Terror Attack
- In the wake of the Bondi terror attack, gun licence applications have exploded, with a 71% increase in just one month, leaving authorities stunned.
- Category C applications, including semi-automatics, have seen a staggering 1400% increase, while applications to buy extra guns have jumped by 33%.
- The surge has sparked concerns that the government’s tough new gun laws may have inadvertently driven people to stockpile weapons, undermining efforts to improve public safety.
In the aftermath of the devastating Bondi terror attack, the NSW Premier announced plans to introduce the toughest gun laws in Australia, which came into effect on Christmas Eve. However, the move has had an unintended and alarming consequence: a massive surge in gun licence applications that has left authorities reeling.
According to statistics signed off by the police minister, applications for new firearm licences skyrocketed from December 16 to January 16, with a 71% increase compared to the previous year. The most striking jump was seen in Category C applications, including semi-automatics, which leapt from 15 to 226 – a staggering 1400% increase. Applications to buy extra guns also shot up by 33% to more than 7500.
Perhaps most concerning, however, is the 7000% increase in applications to become a firearms collector, allowing unlimited gun ownership. This has sparked fears that the government’s efforts to tighten gun laws may have inadvertently driven people to stockpile weapons, potentially undermining public safety.
“This is completely a stampede,” Upper House Independent Rod Roberts told 7NEWS. “This has just backfired completely. Anybody with any sense of common sense would know that this would happen.”
Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst believes that social media campaigns from gun lobby groups may have contributed to the surge, encouraging people to apply for gun licences. “I certainly saw social media campaigns from gun lobby groups, for example, who were pushing people and encouraging people to apply for gun licences,” she said.
As part of the sweeping reforms, current licences are being audited to identify individuals who may have slipped through loopholes. Premier Chris Minns expressed the government’s ultimate hope: “to do everything possible to keep firearms away from unstable or dangerous people.”
However, not everyone is happy with the new laws. At Safari Firearms in Bexley, shelves remain loaded, but business has been shot. “We just don’t know what to do. We need the government to organise this buyback, to draw a line in the sand,” Safari Firearms owner Gary Georgiou said.
Meanwhile, at state parliament, some argue that there’s already a sneaky push to weaken gun laws again. The Shooters Party has put a bill back on the agenda to open up public spaces for hunting and set up a $12.9 million hunting authority.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The unintended consequences of the government’s tough new gun laws are clear: a surge in gun ownership and a potential threat to public safety. This raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the reforms and the government’s ability to keep firearms out of the wrong hands. As the national security implications of this trend become clearer, one thing is certain: the debate over gun laws in Australia is far from over.
Security analysts say that the surge in gun ownership could have significant implications for national security, particularly in the context of terrorism and organised crime. “This is a wake-up call for the government to rethink its approach to gun laws and ensure that they are effective in keeping Australians safe,” said one expert.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the surge in gun ownership could put additional pressure on police resources, making it harder to keep track of firearms and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. “This is a major challenge for law enforcement, and we need to see a more comprehensive approach to gun control to address it,” said another expert.