The hostage drama that recently took place in Sydney, Australia marks the end of an era. Australians had been previously enjoying a long period living free from dangerous of acts of terrorism, but this crisis has now changed that.
After a lengthy, near 16-hour negotiation and hostage drama, Australian police entered the once quiet cafe with extreme force. Flashes of light from gunfire were seen through the windows. As hostages sprinted to safety, gunfire rang out in the confusion.
At least two are now dead and a few were also seen taken away in stretchers. The hostage crisis ended with the gunman’s death, though questions remain unanswered. Why this particular cafe was chosen, if the gunman was acting alone, and just what his list of demands were are questions still on the minds of many Australians today.
Current Australian Gun Law
A handful of shooting events such as the shootings at Monash University and Port Arthur have resulted in discussions of ever-tightening firearm ownership restrictions and buyback programs. According to the Law Library of Congress, the results of the 1996 National Firearms Agreement and Buyback Program were significant. A gun owner must provide a reason why they need the gun (personal protection doesn’t count), provide an explanation of what they will be doing with it (security guard, target shooting), prove that they are of sound mind, and carry a gun license with a photograph.
If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that violent events like the cafe crisis in Sydney usually result in increased gun regulations. Proponents of gun rights in Australia will likely face an uphill battle as a result. How receptive the Australian public and government is to now considering the benefits of carrying guns for personal protection remains to be seen.
What does the future hold for gun owners in Australia?
Sadly, it is events like these the drive legislation concerning gun law to the front of everyone’s minds. It seems to take a tragedy before law makers can adequately respond to the issue. We can hope that all sides and opinions will be weighed equally in the wake of this horrible act. It is worth considering how the 16-hour hostage crisis might have played out differently had a hostage been armed for personal protection.
Without reports from the hostages themselves, we won’t know exactly how they handled the situation. Some might assume though that the hostage situation could have ended very differently if one or several of the hostages had been carrying a firearm for self-defense. If the government maintains its passion for regulation, licensing, and training, hostages in future scenarios would be practiced and responsible gun owners ready to handle the situation. Would the crisis have resulted in deaths of innocent hostages if they could have protected themselves? We can’t know until the Australian public is given the opportunity.
