After the initial shock and trauma of the Bondi Beach shootings, people are asking why the shooters had six high-powered firearms, and why are we being told they were all legally owned?
National Cabinet has unanimously agreed to an overdue revision of gun laws. Recent research shows that there are four million guns in the hands of civilians, and it appears that getting a category A or B licence (which includes high-powered shotguns and ‘repeater’ rifles) is not difficult, requiring only a simple assessment as a ‘fit and proper person’ and a reason the shooter ‘needs’ the gun. This can include citing the obscene term ‘recreational hunting’.
Recreational hunting can only be interpreted as killing for fun. The International Handbook of Animal Abuse and Cruelty states that ‘individuals with a history of animal cruelty were highly likely to be involved in other types of criminal behaviours including, but not limited to, assault, domestic violence and stealing.’ Hunting is ineffective in controlling animal numbers while it always involves appalling acts of cruelty. It is not a sport, nor should it be considered entertainment.
The Bondi shooters appear to have trained with 0.308 calibre ammunition, usually used to hunt larger animals. To those who see other humans as unworthy of life, humans (in this case Jewish ones) are just such large animals. The solution the Commonwealth and state governments should be imposing is to ban all so-called recreational hunting. Tolerating acts of violence towards any animal is a danger to all.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
