NSW Premier Signals Gun Law Reforms After Licensed Firearms Holder Commits Terrorist Attack
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The NSW Premier pledged to reform firearms laws after revelations that the primary Bondi Beach attacker held a valid gun license for approximately ten years and legally possessed six registered weapons before murdering 15 people in a terrorist assault on Jewish Australians.
The revelation that Saturday’s Bondi Beach terrorist held a valid firearms license for a decade has thrust gun control back into the national spotlight, with the NSW Premier signaling immediate legislative action after a licensed shooter used legal weapons to kill 15 people celebrating Hanukkah.
“The short answer is yes. We’re looking at that right now,” NSW Premier Chris. Minns said Sunday when asked whether firearms laws would be reformed in response to the massacre.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that the 50-year-old perpetrator, who was killed during the attack, had maintained a firearms license for approximately ten years and had six weapons legally registered in his name.
“I’m told that he’s had a gun licence for approximately 10 years,” Commissioner Lanyon said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Premier. “The person was determined to be entitled to have a firearms licence and had a firearms licence. The person had had a firearms licence for a number of years for which there were no incidents and it was regulated.”
The fact that a person with “very limited” intelligence or police interest could legally amass six firearms and use them in a terrorist attack has raised immediate questions about the adequacy of Australia’s post-Port Arthur firearms regime.
When asked what purpose the license served, Commissioner Lanyon said he did not have that information available.
“What I’ve said is that he did hold a firearms license and did have six registered firearms,” Lanyon said.
The Premier acknowledged the apparent failure in the licensing system while urging patience for the ongoing investigation.
“Obviously a terrorist has been able to hold a firearms license,” the Premier said. “We’re in the early stages of this investigation. New South Wales Police need to provide all the details of this inquiry to the government.”
But the Premier left no doubt that legislative changes would follow.
“I made it clear last night that we will take every step we possibly can to keep our community safe, and we’ll be looking at law reform along that route,” the Premier said. “I won’t hesitate to move legislation if it’s required.”
Prime Minister Albanese similarly indicated federal willingness to pursue legislative reforms.
“We will look at whatever is necessary, whatever comes out of this investigation,” Albanese said. “If there is any action required in terms of legislative response, we will certainly have it.”
The attack revives debates that have simmered since Australia implemented sweeping gun control measures following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, in which 35 people were killed. Those reforms, introduced under the Howard government, banned automatic and semi-automatic weapons and established a national firearms registry.
Commissioner Lanyon emphasized that the firearms licensing system operated according to existing law in the perpetrator’s case.
“I think there’s actually legislation that governs how people have a firearms licence,” Lanyon said. “The person was determined to be entitled to have a firearms licence and had a firearms licence.”
However, the commissioner acknowledged that investigating authorities will examine the licensing history thoroughly.
“When I’m speaking about an investigation, we want to get to the circumstances of everything that occurred yesterday and what led up to it,” Lanyon said. “We are determined to make sure that investigation is thorough.”
The Premier said a comprehensive inquiry would follow the police investigation.
“This is a massive terrorist event in Australia’s largest city targeted on Jewish Australians. We need to get to the bottom of exactly how this happens so that we can take steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” the Premier said.
The investigation must determine how a person with minimal intelligence interest obtained and maintained a firearms license, and whether existing screening mechanisms failed to identify warning signs.
“There was very little knowledge of either of these men by the authorities,” Commissioner Lanyon acknowledged.
The younger attacker, the 50-year-old’s 24-year-old son, was known to both NSW Police and ASIO, though Lanyon described this knowledge as “very limited.” The son did not hold a firearms license.
Police recovered all six registered firearms during search warrants executed at the family’s Bonnyrig residence and a property in Campsie where the attackers had been staying.
“We are satisfied that we have six firearms,” Commissioner Lanyon said.
The recovery of two improvised explosive devices at the scene adds another dimension to security discussions. While not directly related to firearms licensing, the bombs’ presence suggests the attackers were prepared for mass casualties beyond what their legally obtained weapons could inflict.
The Premier drew connections between the licensing questions and broader anti-Semitism concerns.
“Part of that may be law reform, almost certainly it will be. Part of it will be a comprehensive police response. But it also goes down to the level of confronting racism and anti-Semitism in our community,” the Premier said.
Gun control advocates are expected to press for strengthened background check requirements, mandatory mental health evaluations, and enhanced coordination between police, intelligence agencies and firearms registries.
The Premier indicated reform discussions were already underway.
“We’re looking at that right now,” the Premier said. “New South Wales Police need to provide all the details of this inquiry to the government. But I made it clear last night that we will take every step we possibly can to keep our community safe.”
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