Port Arthur Massacre: Lessons, Gun Control, and Policy Implications

This essay analyzes the critical lessons learned from the Port Arthur Massacre, emphasizing the importance of stringent gun control measures. It highlights the correlation between easy access to firearms and increased gun violence, using the United States as a concerning example. The essay contrasts this with Australia's response after the massacre, where the introduction of the National Firearms Agreement led to a significant reduction in gun violence. It also addresses the influence of organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) and their efforts to propagate the idea of civilian gun ownership for security, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. The essay concludes that stricter firearm policies can lead to safer societies and encourages critical evaluation of justifications made by interest groups.

Running head: LESSONS LEARNT FROM PORT ARTHUR MASSACRE
Lessons Learnt from Port Arthur Massacre
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Lessons Learnt from Port Arthur Massacre
One of the key lessons that are learnt from this massacre is that every nation should
put very stringent measures on acquisition and possession of guns by the civilians. Extensive
research has showed that when guns are easily available to the civilians, the number of deaths
from gun violence increase. For instance, gun violence has caused more deaths in America
than terrorism has. Research suggests that United States experiences the highest number of
deaths due to gun violence than any other country in the world. Despite the obvious killings,
it is worrying that nothing seems to be done about it.
Another lesson learnt from the massacre is that making stringent rules concerning
acquisition of ammunition could significantly reduce the cases of deaths from guns (Leonard,
2016). Australia is a perfect example of how this could happen. After the Port Arthur
Massacre, which was the highest form ever experienced in Australia’s history, the
government revised the law concerning fire arms. The shooting done at Port Arthur left 35
people dead and 23 wounded (Dudley, Rosen, Alpers, Peters, 2016). Due to the massacre, the
government of Australia introduced the National Firearms Agreement. This was legislations
that made it illegal for an individual to possess automatic and semiautomatic as well as short
action shotguns. Due to this law more than 600000 guns were returned to the authorities.
Since then, the cases of gun violence became rare and almost extinct. It follows that putting
stringent measures on acquisition of firearms may lead reduced cases of gun violence.
Another lesson learnt is that people or organizations may make false justifications to
propagate their interests. An example would be the National Rifle Association (NRA). The
association has worked so hard to ‘prove’ the merits of allowing the civilians the right to
possess guns for their own security. Even though there is so much evidence to the contrary,
the NRA works very hard to assure Americans that the law has done more harm than good in

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allowing possession of guns by civilians. Extensive evidence suggests that more stringent
measures would lead to a better America.

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References
Dudley, M. J., Rosen, A., Alpers, P. A., & Peters, R. (2016). The Port Arthur massacre and
the National Firearms Agreement: 20 years on, what are the lessons? The Medical
Journal of Australia, 204(10), 381-383.
Leonard, M. (2016). Media and the massacre: Port Arthur a case study. The Australian.