Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has outlined plans for a sweeping gun buyback scheme, a week after a father-son duo killed 15 members of the Jewish community in the country while they were celebrating the Hanukkah festival near Bondi Beach.
Albanese told his fellow countrymen to light up the candles at 6:47 pm on Sunday, December 21—"exactly one week since the attack unfolded". “This is about standing with the Jewish community, wrapping our arms around them, and all of Australia sharing their grief,” Albanese said.
“This is the time and moment to reflect and affirm that hatred and violence have no place in the Australian society,” he added. He said that Australia is also planning a "national day of mourning" to be held at some point next year.
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“This will allow families the time and space to lay their loved ones to rest and support others still recovering and counting their losses.” Australia will purchase back all the surplus and newly banned illegal firearms in a nationwide crackdown while imposing stricter gun measures.
He said it would be the largest gun buyback effort since 1996, when Australia cracked down on firearms in the wake of a shooting that killed 35 people at Port Arthur. “Australia’s gun laws were substantially reformed after the Port Arthur tragedy. However, the terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets,” Albanese said.
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