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Eight months after a tragic shooting during a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach that resulted in the deaths of 15 people, Australia is set to implement a significant gun buyback program. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the initiative will begin on November 2, marking the largest buyback effort since the infamous Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
The buyback program will allow individuals to return rifles and handguns in exchange for compensation of up to A$1,000 (approximately $700) per firearm. This initiative has received support from both the federal and New South Wales state governments, with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also announcing the details of the program.
This gun buyback is part of a broader package introduced in January, which includes stricter gun license checks and measures to combat hate crimes. Additionally, New South Wales has instituted a new regulation limiting individuals to a maximum of four firearms under state law.
The urgency of this buyback is underscored by recent statistics revealing that Australia registered a record 4.1 million firearms last year, with over 1.1 million of those in New South Wales. The firearms used in the December attack were legally obtained, prompting a swift political response to address the rising number of guns in the country.
The comparison to the Port Arthur massacre is significant; the 1996 tragedy led to a buyback that successfully removed approximately 650,000 firearms from circulation, contributing to a long-term decrease in mass shootings in Australia. The effectiveness of the upcoming buyback will depend on public participation, with outcomes expected to become clearer in the following months.
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