Two decades after Australia confiscated hundreds of thousands of guns via mandatory government-sponsored buybacks, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that “scores of domestic violence offenders” are getting their guns back in Victoria.
The Herald points to “previously unpublished data” that shows that 87 out of 139 person previously barred from gun possession were allowed to have their firearm licenses back. Many of these were originally barred from firearm possession “after being accused of stalking and beating their partners.” The majority of those who lost their licenses were people who “had a ‘final’ family violence order made against them for violence or stalking, and those found guilty of other indictable offences.”
This is huge news in light of of the fact that Hillary Clinton praised Australia’s approach to gun control while talking to New Hampshire voters on October 16, 2015. Australia’s approach rests on confiscating guns–as they did in 1996/1997–then allowing limited gun ownership based on strict government oversight of select firearms. Part of the government oversight includes licensing for all gun owners. Clinton said this system was “worth looking at” for gun policy in America.
Yet the Herald makes clear that such a system is allowing alleged domestic abusers to retain their firearms.
This news comes just weeks after Breitbart News reported that gun violence in Melbourne was surging, that Melbourne had witnessed more than one shooting a week on average since January 2015.
The Age reports Melbourne’s gun crime explosion, saying:
- Known criminals were caught with firearms 755 times [in 2015], compared to 143 times in 2011
- The epicentre of the problem is a triangle between Coolaroo, Campbellfield and Glenroy in the north-west, with Cranbourne, Narre Warren and Dandenong in the south-east close behind
- Criminals are using gunshot wounds to the arms and legs as warnings to pay debts
- Assault rifles and handguns are being smuggled into Australia via shipments of electronics and metal parts
On October 21, the Australian government admitted hundreds of thousands of “illegal guns” are in Australia. Reuters reported that a new amnesty will be put in place in hopes of encouraging the surrender of the guns.
When Australia put forward its confiscatory gun policy in 1996, the NRA warned it would not succeed in disarming criminals. Rather, it would simply disarm law-abiding citizens, leaving them at the mercy of the criminal element. It appears the NRA was right.
AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of “Bullets with AWR Hawkins,” a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.