ACT Policing has seized more than 40 weapons and made four arrests in Canberra since October 18 as part of a nationwide crackdown called Operation Athena, with one Dunlop gun owner alone surrendering 27 weapons and 4000 rounds of ammunition after compliance checks revealed anomalies.
The seizures have highlighted the contentious nature of firearms ownership in the ACT, even in a small 'city state' like Canberra, according to The Canberra Times. Many of the weapons acquired by criminals have been stolen from licensed and registered gun owners, the newspaper reported.
The operation runs alongside the ongoing response to the Bondi massacre last December, which prompted the federal government to accelerate a national gun registry and initiate a gun buyback scheme. Under proposed numerical caps, individuals would be limited to four firearms, with an allowance of up to 10 for primary producers and competitive sporting shooters.
As of July 9 this year, 5377 gun licences had been issued for pest control and recreational hunting, with another 3300 held by target shooters. The newspaper suggests that if some individuals own far more than one or two guns, the number of both registered and unregistered firearms in the ACT could be in the tens of thousands.
The buyback scheme, which would see the state and federal governments split compensation costs and the Commonwealth wear the full cost of weapon destruction, has so far only been officially launched by NSW. The Canberra Times said it seems probable the ACT will follow NSW's lead, with draft legislation being considered by the Legislative Assembly.
New ACT laws now allow magistrates to issue firearm prohibition orders to high-risk individuals. The newspaper argues that to have a 10-gun cap and strict licensing in Queanbeyan but not in nearby Fyshwick would be "an obvious absurdity", given the territory is landlocked within NSW.
The editorial stance of The Canberra Times is that gun ownership is a privilege, not a right, and that Australia has no constitutional right to bear arms. It notes the total firearm fatality rate in the US is more than 17 times higher than in Australia, and the gun homicide rate is about 50 times higher.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The seizure reveals that a significant number of firearms are circulating in the ACT, many stolen from licensed owners, raising public safety concerns.
- The federal buyback scheme, prompted by the Bondi massacre, has not yet been fully implemented, with only NSW officially participating, leaving a gap in enforcement.
- The ACT's draft legislation could harmonise gun laws with NSW, preventing a regulatory loophole at the border.
Background
The federal government's response to the Bondi massacre includes a national gun registry and a buyback scheme with proposed caps on firearm ownership. NSW has launched its participation, but other states, including the ACT, are yet to finalise their involvement. The ACT is considering draft legislation to mirror NSW's approach.
Key Perspectives
- The Canberra Times (editorial): Argues that gun ownership is a privilege, not a right, and that stricter controls are necessary to prevent weapons from falling into criminal hands. It calls the pro-gun slogan 'guns don't kill people, people kill people' a "simplistic fallacy."
- Pro-gun advocates (as reported): Have pushed back against stricter controls, holding what the editorial describes as a "naive belief" that gun ownership is a right.
What to Watch
- Whether the ACT Legislative Assembly passes draft legislation to adopt the national caps and buyback scheme.
- Further Operation Athena seizures and arrests across Australia, which may reveal more about the scale of unregistered firearms.
- The progress of the national firearms registry and whether other states follow NSW's lead in launching the buyback.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe seizure exposes the scale of Canberra gun ownership.The Canberra Times - News: “These outcomes, combined with legal gun registration statistics, confirm there are many more firearms in circulation in the ACT - not counting those held by defence and law enforcement - than most people might think.”
- SupportedOperation Athena officers seized more than 40 weapons since October 18.The Canberra Times - News: “Officers taking part in a nationwide crackdown called Operation Athena have seized more than 40 weapons since October 18.”
- Partly supportedFour arrests were made in Canberra as part of the operation.The Canberra Times - News: “Four arrests have been made.”
- Partly supportedA Dunlop gun owner surrendered 27 weapons and 4000 rounds after checks revealed anomalies.The Canberra Times - News: “Twenty-seven weapons and 4000 rounds of ammunition were seized from one Dunlop gun owner alone after police compliance checks discovered anomalies.”
- SupportedThe phrase “city state” describes Canberra as a place where firearms ownership remains contentious.The Canberra Times - News: “Strong gun control enforcement measures taken by ACT Policing in recent days have highlighted the fact that even in a small "city state" such as Canberra, firearms ownership remains a highly contentious issue.”
- SupportedMany weapons acquired by criminals have been stolen from licensed and registered gun owners.The Canberra Times - News: “Many of the weapons acquired by criminals have been stolen from licensed and registered gun owners.”
- SupportedThe Bondi massacre response prompted the federal government to accelerate a national gun registry and initiate a buyback scheme.The Canberra Times - News: “The latest crackdown on unregistered firearms operates alongside the ongoing response to the Bondi massacre last December. That prompted the federal government to accelerate a national gun registry and initiate a gun buyback scheme.”
- SupportedProposed caps would limit individuals to four firearms, with up to 10 allowed for primary producers and competitive sporting shooters.The Canberra Times - News: “Under proposed numerical caps, individuals would be limited to four firearms, with an allowance of up to 10 for primary producers and competitive sporting shooters.”
- SupportedAs of July 9, 5377 licences were issued for pest control and recreational hunting, and another 3300 were held by target shooters.The Canberra Times - News: “As of July 9 this year, 5377 gun licences had been issued for the purposes of pest control and recreational hunting. Another 3300 licences were held by target shooters.”
- SupportedThe number of registered and unregistered firearms in the ACT could be in the tens of thousands if some people own far more than one or two guns.The Canberra Times - News: “If, as appears to be the case, some individuals own far more than one or two guns, it seems possible the number of both registered and unregistered firearms in the ACT could be in the tens of thousands.”
- Partly supportedThe federal buyback scheme has not fully launched, with only NSW having officially launched it so far.The Canberra Times - News: “It is unfortunate, given the apparent ease with which registered weapons can be stolen from their lawful owners and passed on to criminal elements, that only NSW has officially launched its participation in the scheme.”
- SupportedThe editorial calls it “an obvious absurdity” to have a 10-gun cap and strict licensing in Queanbeyan but not in Fyshwick.The Canberra Times - News: “To have a 10-gun cap and strict licensing and weapon storage requirements in Queanbeyan but not down the road in Fyshwick would be an obvious absurdity.”