Aussie PM flags stricter gun laws after Bondi Beach mass shooting
Baku, December 15, AZERTAC
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that his government will consider introducing stricter gun ownership laws in response to the fatal mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach, according to China Daily.
Albanese said at a press conference that he would discuss tougher gun laws at an emergency meeting with state and territory leaders scheduled for Monday afternoon.
He said that the federal government is prepared to take "whatever action is necessary" to prevent future similar attacks and identified limits on the number of guns that can be licensed by individuals and a review of firearm licenses over time as possible areas for reform.
"People's circumstances can change. People can be radicalized over a period of time. Licences should not be in perpetuity," Albanese said.
Authorities in the state of New South Wales (NSW) previously confirmed that one of the two alleged shooters, a 50-year-old man who was fatally shot by police on Sunday night, held a firearms license and legally owned six guns.
Premier of NSW Chris Minns said earlier on Monday that it is time for "a change" to the state's gun ownership laws.
Police in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Monday morning that 16 people have been confirmed dead after the shooting.
A police statement said that 14 people died at the scene and two others died in hospital.
The deceased range in age from 10 to 87 years old and includes one of the attackers.
Another 40 people were being treated in hospital for their injuries as of Monday morning, five of whom were in critical condition.
The shooting occurred at around 6:47 pm local time on Sunday when the two men opened fire on a crowd of at least 1,000 people who gathered at the beach for an event celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
Lanyon, who on Sunday night officially declared the shooting as a terrorist attack, said Monday that investigations into motives behind the attack are ongoing.
Albanese said that the attack was an act of "pure evil" and that Australia would do whatever is necessary to stamp out antisemitism.
"It is a scourge and we'll eradicate it together," he said.
It marks Australia's most deadly mass shooting since 35 people were killed at Port Arthur in the island state of Tasmania in 1996, which prompted fundamental changes to Australia's gun ownership laws.
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