Australia Mulls Tougher Gun-Control as Bondi Terror Attack Toll Hits 16

Did harsh gun laws leave innocent people defenseless, or could stricter reforms prevent further tragedies?

Published 19 hours ago·Updated 10 hours ago

Australia Mulls Tougher Gun-Control as Bondi Terror Attack Toll Hits 16

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Above: Mourners pay a floral tribute to shooting victims at the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney, on Dec. 15, 2025.. Image credit: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Right narrative

Australia's strict gun laws left law-abiding citizens completely defenseless against armed terrorists at Bondi Beach. The government disarmed the population while criminals ignored the laws entirely, turning innocent people into sitting ducks with no means of protection. This massacre proves gun control only ensures that bad guys have all the firepower.

Alec Lace on X

Don Keith on X

Left narrative

Australia has experienced one mass shooting in 29 years, while the U.S. has seen 23 major incidents killing at least 10 people each in that period. The Bondi tragedy demands more curbs on gun ownership, not less. The alternative is the U.S.'s constant drumbeat of needless deaths. Gun control works, and this incident proves the system needs refinement, not abandonment.

SBS News Au

Establishment-critical narrative

This wasn't a gun problem — it was an intelligence failure. The father legally owned six firearms for a decade and passed every check Australia's rigorous system required. ASIO reviewed the son and cleared him as "no threat." No licensing regime can predict radicalization. With 3,700+ antisemitic incidents since October 2023, pretending this is about gun access is dishonest. The real question is, why did counter-terrorism fail to stop an attack many saw coming and warned about?

Mario Nawfal on X