Australia to buy back guns after Sydney mass shooting, offering up to 600 euros

New South Wales, Australia, will begin a gun buyback program in November, offering residents up to A$1,000 (approximately 600 euros) for surrendering firearms to authorities. This initiative is a direct response to the mass shooting in December at Sydney's Bondi Beach, where 16 people were killed by two gunmen using legally obtained weapons.

The state's program aims to curb gun ownership following the attack, which authorities believe was inspired by the extremist group ISIS. New South Wales had already tightened restrictions on the number of firearms individuals could own after the incident. The buyback targets owners with more guns than currently allowed or those who no longer meet the stricter licensing requirements.

A second phase, starting in early next year, will involve the government purchasing firearms valued above A$3,000 (about 1,800 euros), with potential compensation up to A$10,000 (around 6,100 euros) for owners.

This buyback program is the largest in Australia since a similar initiative was implemented after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which claimed 35 lives. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the program, noting that despite Australia's pride in its gun laws, the country currently possesses more firearms than during the post-Port Arthur buyback period. In the past year, Australia recorded a record 4.1 million firearms, with over 1.1 million in New South Wales alone. The program, jointly funded by the federal and state governments, anticipates collecting over 270,000 weapons.

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Australians are rightly proud of our gun laws, but the reality is there are more guns in Australia today than there were at the time of the Port Arthur buyback.