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Australia is once again moving toward tighter national gun laws following a terrorist mass shooting at a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach that left at least 15 people dead and 27 hospitalized, according to authorities.
Police have classified the December 14 attack as a targeted act of terrorism against Jewish Australians. Allegedly, it was carried out by a father-and-son pair. One suspect died in a shootout with police. The other remains hospitalized and is expected to face criminal charges.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as “an act of pure evil” and quickly signaled that new firearm restrictions are coming.
“We are stronger than the cowards who did this,” Albanese said. “The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws.”
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Australia already has some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, largely shaped by sweeping reforms enacted after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which killed 35 people. Those laws significantly reduced civilian gun ownership and are often cited internationally as a model for gun control.
Despite those measures, Albanese told reporters that circumstances change and that firearm licenses should not be permanent. Among the proposals he plans to bring before the National Cabinet are limits on how many firearms a licensed individual may own, periodic license reviews, and expanded authority for agencies to reassess permit holders over time.
“People can be radicalized over a period of time,” Albanese said. “Licenses should not be in perpetuity.”
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— Adam Carolla (@adamcarolla) December 14, 2025
Police have confirmed that one suspect was a licensed firearm owner and that six guns were recovered, some of which were allegedly obtained illegally.
The younger suspect was reportedly known to Australia’s domestic intelligence agency for past extremist connections, though no active red flags were said to exist prior to the attack.
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One detail drawing widespread attention is the role of an unarmed civilian. Ahmed Al Ahmed, a 43-year-old bystander and son of Syrian refugees, was praised by officials for disarming one of the attackers. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called him a “real-life hero,” crediting his actions with saving lives.
Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, including a Holocaust survivor who was killed while shielding his wife.
The attack has reignited national debate over antisemitism, terrorism, and whether additional gun restrictions would have altered the outcome. While Albanese credited Australia’s existing gun laws as a “proud moment of reform,” he made clear the government is prepared to go further.
“If there’s anything we can do, I’m certainly up for it,” he said.
What say you? Do you believe more regulations will meaningfully address terrorism?
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
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only thing to learn from this is gun bans don’t work!