Australia’s state of New South Wales is launching a new gun buyback program in the wake of the December 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack, the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since Port Arthur. Two Islamic State‑inspired gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration, murdering 15 innocent people and injuring 41 more before police stopped the attackers.
For decades, gun‑control advocates have pointed to Australia as the “model” for firearm restrictions. But when the Bondi Beach attack happened, the public was completely defenseless. The only people armed that night were the terrorists.
Now, months after the massacre, NSW officials are rolling out a large‑scale buyback aimed squarely at law‑abiding gun owners. Because everyone knows violent extremists aren’t lining up to surrender their weapons.
The buyback comes alongside sweeping new gun‑control measures, including strict limits on how many firearms a person may legally own. That means the program isn’t truly voluntary. If someone owns more firearms than the new cap allows, they’re effectively turned into criminals unless they surrender their legally‑owned property to meet the government’s quota.
Opposition leaders say the buyback was originally intended to be a nationwide effort, but several Australian states have declined to participate. That raises serious questions about the program’s effectiveness, especially since gun buybacks in U.S. cities have repeatedly shown no measurable impact on crime. Criminals don’t follow the law, and they certainly don’t hand in their guns for gift cards.
The NSW buyback is scheduled to begin November 2 and will roll out in two phases.
Leave a Reply