The Port Arthur massacre in 1996 transformed gun control legislation in Australia. 35 people were killed and 23 wounded when a man with a history of violent and erratic behavior beginning in early childhood opened fire on shop owners and tourists with two semi-automatic rifles.
The Australian Constitution prevents the taking of property without just compensation, so the federal government introduced the Medicare Levy Amendment Act 1996 to raise the predicted cost of A$500 million through a one-off increase in the Medicare levy. The gun buy-back scheme started in October, 1996 and concluded the following September. The buyback purchased and destroyed nearly 1 million firearms, mostly semi-automatic .22 rimfires, semi-automatic shotguns and pump-action shotguns.
After the buyback program, the risk of dying by gunshot in Australia dropped by over 50% and hasn't risen since. The buyback also resulting in a drop of 80% in firearm suicides.
We could never do that.
But we should.
ReplyDeleteBut we should.
ReplyDelete