Australia is set to implement new gun legislation following a recent incident in Sydney.### Recent Incident and Government ResponseOn Sunday, 15 individuals were killed and 42 hospitalized at a Sydney beach after a father and son opened fire on a crowd. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized the event as a terrorist incident targeting Jewish Australians. In response to the shooting, Prime Minister Albanese and other Australian officials have called for revisions to existing gun laws.### Historical Context of Australian Gun LawsAustralia's gun control framework originates from the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, where 35 people were killed. Following this event, then-Prime Minister John Howard led efforts to revise gun laws. This resulted in the National Firearms Agreement (NFA), which restricted the sale of semi-automatic rifles and pump-action shotguns. A national buyback program initiated after the NFA led to the surrender of over 650,000 firearms, according to the National Museum of Australia. The NFA also unified Australia's firearms laws, which had previously varied by state and territory.The NFA has been referenced internationally as a model for gun control and is associated with a reduction in firearms-related deaths in Australia. One study reported no mass shootings in the country for over two decades after its implementation. Prime Minister Albanese stated on Monday that the "Howard government's gun laws have made an enormous difference in Australia and are a proud moment of reform... achieved across the parliament with bipartisan support."However, reports indicate a rise in Australian firearm ownership in recent years. A January report by The Australia Institute stated that the number of guns in the country exceeds 4 million, representing a 25% increase since 1996. The report also noted that certain NFA provisions have been inconsistently implemented or modified. Graham Park, president of Shooters Union Australia, reportedly informed supporters that Australian firearms owners are "winning."### Proposed Legislative MeasuresFollowing Monday's meeting, the Prime Minister and regional Australian leaders agreed to pursue stronger gun measures. These proposals include:Renegotiating the 1996 National Firearms Agreement.Accelerating the establishment of the National Firearms Register, a countrywide database of firearms owners and licenses proposed in 2023.Integrating additional criminal intelligence into the firearms licensing process.Limiting the number of firearms an individual can own.Restricting the types of firearms and modifications permitted.Stipulating that only Australian citizens can hold a firearms license.Introducing further customs restrictions on firearms and related equipment, potentially targeting items involved in 3D printing or accessories for large ammunition capacities.The leaders also reaffirmed their support for Australia's national firearms amnesty program, which allows individuals to surrender unregistered firearms without legal penalty.Details related to the Sydney incident include that the son involved came to the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation in 2019 and was reportedly examined for alleged ties to an Islamic State terrorism cell in Sydney, according to ABC Australia. Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke confirmed the son is an Australian-born citizen and that the father entered Australia on a student visa in 1998, later transferring to a partner visa in 2001 and most recently holding a resident return visa.### Australia's Legislative ProcessAustralia's National Cabinet, comprising the Prime Minister and the premiers and chief ministers of the states and territories, facilitates coordination on national policy matters. Established in 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic response, it convenes to discuss various national issues. While the National Cabinet does not legislate directly, its members aim to agree on strategies and priorities for implementation by their respective parliaments.### Public Opinion on Gun ControlDiscussions on gun control in Australia are often compared to those in the United States. John Howard stated in a 2016 interview that his observation of American culture led him to conclude that "the ready availability of guns inevitably led to massacres." He also indicated an aim to avoid "the American path." The National Firearms Agreement states that gun ownership is "a privilege that is conditional on the overriding need to ensure public safety."A January poll by The Australia Institute found that 64% of Australians believe the country's gun laws should be strengthened, with 6% advocating for them to be rolled back. Paul Strangio, a politics professor at Monash University, noted in a 2023 article that compulsory voting in Australia generally leads politics toward the center, potentially reducing polarization observed elsewhere.Following the recent shooting, calls for strengthening Australia's gun laws have re-emerged. Walter Mikac, founding patron of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, whose daughters were killed in the 1996 shooting, stated on Monday, "After Port Arthur, Australia made a collective commitment to put community safety first, and that commitment remains as important today as ever." He added, "This is a reminder of the need to stay vigilant against violence, and of the importance of ensuring our gun laws continue to protect the safety of all Australians."