Bachelor Nursing Assignment: Gun Control in Australia

This essay delves into the evolution of gun control in Australia, examining the pivotal role of the Port Arthur Massacre in shaping legislation. It highlights the implementation of the National Firearms Agreement and the subsequent reforms led by John Howard. The essay analyzes the political landscape, including the federal-state dynamics and the influence of various stakeholders. It also assesses the effectiveness of these gun control measures in reducing gun violence, mass shootings, and suicides. The analysis covers the impact of the legislation, the debate around it, and the ongoing efforts to address the issue. The essay references various sources to support its arguments and provides a comprehensive overview of the topic. The essay also mentions the impact of the laws on firearm-related deaths and the ongoing debate about gun control in Australia.

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Gun Control in Australia
Gun control in Australia are predominantly in jurisdiction of states as well as territories
of Australia, with guns’ importance regulated by federal government. Within 20th century’s last
two decades, following any killing sprees of high profile, federal government cooperated more
restrictive legislation of firearms with every state governments. The gun control laws were
aligned largely in the year 1996 by National Firearms Agreement. Within two funded federally
voluntary surrenders as well as gun buybacks and gun amnesties of state government before as
well as after Port Arthur Massacre were gathered and destroyed, of more than million firearms,
almost one-third of national stock (Newman & Head, 2017). Person should have firearm license
for possessing or using firearm. The license holders should demonstrate genuine reason to hold
license of firearm. Every firearm should be registered through owner’s serial number, who
should hold also license for firearms.
Port Arthur Massacre took place in year 1996 when fire was opened by the gunman on
the tourists as well as shop owners with two semi-automatic rifles which resulted in death of 35
people and 23 people were injured. The mass killing terrified public of Australia and transformed
legislation of gun control in Australia. John Howard, former prime minister, pressured states in
adopting proposals of gun law made in report of National Committee on Violence in 19888 as
National Firearms Agreement, which resulted in non-binding National Firearms Agreement
(NFA) among States and Territories and Commonwealth as Constitution of Australia doesn’t
give direct power to Commonwealth in enacting gun laws (Chapman, Alpers & Jones, 2016).
Howard threatened in holding nationwide referendum for altering Constitution of Australia for
giving constitutional power of Commonwealth over guns.
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NFA included ban on every semi-automatic rifles as well as every pump action along
with semi-automatic shotguns and system for licensing as well as ownership controls. Several
public meetings were held by Howard government for explaining proposed changes. Howard
wore vest that was bullet resistant, at first meeting, which could be see under the jacket. Few
owners of firearm applied for joining liberal party with attempt for influencing government,
however they were barred by the party from membership. The court action of 500 shooters who
were seeking admission for admission failed eventually in South Australia’s Supreme Court.
Constitution of Australia’s Section 51 needs just terms for the property which is acquired
compulsorily. Australian National Audit Office reported scheme acquired compulsorily almost
640000 firearms, several of them were shotguns and semi-automatic rifles or old, dysfunctional
and antique firearms (Alpers & Ghazarian, 2019). There is substantial growth with political
activities of the gun dealers, users and owners in last three decades. Carr Labor government
negotiated policies of gun licensing with Party of Shooter’s parliamentary representative.
Port Arthur Massacre’s political response were predictable: s hope, sympathy for
bereaved, nation of act that this tragedy never be repeated again. However, such ritual
lamentations were short of certain commitments for gun law reform which might upset shooting
constituency. John Howard, newly elected prime minister moved deeply by this incident,
announced he would try everything in power in tightening gun laws (Alpers, 2017). He put
unrelenting and immediate pressure over party colleagues over nation for backing him. Howard’s
problem was that there is limited power of federal government for controlling firearms, under
Constitution of Australia. Almost every significant powers for regulating gun’s possession as
well as sale lie with eight territories and states. It was extraordinary display for political vision
and determination that enabled him in exerting his will over every jurisdictions. Initial revulsion
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and horror turned quickly into anger as well as determination for tightening gun laws (Chapman
& Alpers, 2018). About 90% Australians wanted strict tough laws, which includes registration of
every gun as well as total ban over semiautomatics.
Almost 90% Australians favored strict gun laws, the minority opposing the position was
vocal and well founded. Many huge street demonstrations were staged by gun lobby, however
media reports for immoderate as well as reckless speeches helped case of gun control actually.
Only two organizations related to health of Australia made remarkable contribution to public
debate within four months of Port Arthur. Howard put point plan to police ministers for uniform
and strict gun laws, depending on NCV recommendations (Doherty & Ritchie, 2017). This needs
every jurisdiction in passing laws which ensures: Ownerships and sales of all guns should be
registered within national database, anyone looking to own a gun should prove genuine reason
for that, minimum age to have license for owning or buying guns would be 18, offenders of
domestic violence would be banned to hold license of gun for five years, applicants for new
license would undertake training course for gun safety, strict and uniform storage requirements
of gun would be instituted, guns could be bought as well as sold only by licensed dealers and
prohibited weapons’ owners would be given 12 months for surrendering them.
Federal State relations are political difficulty to national government of Australia.
Consensus reached reforms’ wide range for strengthening use as well as control of firearms was
considerable achievement. Provisions were potentially as well as wide-ranging controversial.
They included ban on semi-automatic and automatic weapons, having measures for prohibiting
transfer or resale of the arms in country already (Evans, Farmer & Saligari, 2016). Port Arthur’s
events have focused attention of every Australian on how and whether such occurrences could be
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prevented. National response is turning cultural point to people of Australia, opportunity in
becoming society which does something o violence.
Gun laws of Australia are effective to reduce mass shootings, armed crime and gun
suicides. Strong support is seen for legislation of gun with 85% - 90% Australians wanting
greater or same restriction levels. There might be around 260000 prohibited or unregistered
firearms in community, which includes assault rifles (Brown, 2017). Suicides that are committed
by firearms accounted 77% deaths, 15% of death by firearms homicide, 5% by firearms
accidents and 2% by firearms deaths which results from undetermined deaths and legal
intervention. Suicide deaths by using firearms halved in last few years. Long gun more often are
stolen opportunistically within home burglaries, however there are handguns as well as stolen
handguns’ substantial proportion in few homes taken from the security firms as well as other
businesses.
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References
Alpers, P. (2017). Australian gun laws. In The Palgrave Handbook of Australian and New
Zealand Criminology, Crime and Justice (pp. 787-800). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Alpers, P., & Ghazarian, Z. (2019). The ‘perfect storm’of gun control: From policy inertia to
world leader. Successful Public Policy, 207.
Brown, P. (2017). Impact of gun law reforms on rates of homicide, suicide and mass shootings in
Australia. Evidence-based mental health, 20(1), 25-25.
Chapman, S., & Alpers, P. (2018). AUSTRALIA'S 1996 GUN LAW REFORMS HALTED
MASS SHOOTINGS FOR 22 YEARS: A RESPONSE TO CRITICISM FROM GARY
KLECK. Contemporary Readings in Law & Social Justice, 10(1).
Chapman, S., Alpers, P., & Jones, M. (2016). Association between gun law reforms and
intentional firearm deaths in Australia, 1979-2013. Jama, 316(3), 291-299.
Doherty, T. S., & Ritchie, E. G. (2017). Stop jumping the gun: a call for evidence‐based invasive
predator management. Conservation Letters, 10(1), 15-22.
Evans, R., Farmer, C., & Saligari, J. (2016). Mental illness and gun violence: Lessons for the
United States from Australia and Britain. Violence and gender, 3(3), 150-156.
Newman, J., & Head, B. (2017). The national context of wicked problems: Comparing policies
on gun violence in the US, Canada, and Australia. Journal of comparative policy
analysis: research and practice, 19(1), 40-53.
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