Should We Adopt Australia’s Gun Laws?
I went to Australia over spring break, and while we were there we ended up talking to a lot of locals at restaurants, Uber drivers, etc. In almost every conversation, the issue of gun violence in America came up. The locals expressed their shock and disgust about what is happening in our country. They were completely stunned as to what is happening, as gun violence has become an outdated worry in Australia since a gun reform was put in place in 1996.
Since the Sandy Hook Shooting, according to the Vox.com, there have been 1,126 mass shootings in the U.S. A mass shooting is defined as when four or more people die in a shooting, not including the shooter. Since Sandy Hook, the issue has only gotten worse, which is deeply disturbing to most. Conversely, Australia had a massive reform in 1996 after there was a shooting at Port Arthur, a popular tourist attraction. After the shooting, which left 35 people dead and 23 people injured, Australia was quick to come up with gun reforms, including the banning of shotguns and semi-automatic rifles, and created strict rules for the purchasing of handguns. Since the law was passed, about one million semi-automatic weapons have been returned to the government, and in 2017, the murder rate reached an all time low, with the overall murder rate (not necessarily gun related) at 1 in 100,000 people.
This sounds perfect, right? It turned out to be ideal: there was a terrible mass shooting, rules were made, guns were returned, and just like that, there was a massive decrease in gun violence. Why has this not been considered in America? Why has is this not a model for our approach to gun laws?
The answer is rather simple. The Second Amendment and U.S. History. After doing some reading online, I discovered that mostly everyone agrees. It is our history that created America’s relationship with guns. We have used guns through our revolutions, battles, civil wars. When the Constitution was created, the Second Amendment was also created. The Second Amendment states the right for citizens to bear arms. Granted, that was written in 1787, when the most dangerous guns people were using were muskets, not AK-47’s. Like it or not, Americans are not able to give up their guns. A lot of Americans are proud of their guns, and it has become a part of American culture over time. According to The New York Times, only 30% of Americans own guns, a huge decrease in gun ownership since the 1970’s. Additionally, 44% of people said they knew someone personally who had been shot. In rural areas, 46% of adults said they owned a gun. Meanwhile, in Australia, many people have never even seen a gun. In an interview with Australia’s ambassador Joe Hockey did with Pacific Standard Magazine, he talked about American gun culture saying, “The gun culture is so ingrained in America. I can’t wrap my brain around impulsive buys, no cooling off period, no mental-health checks. I’m stunned there’s not more road rage here given the number of guns.”
In other words, our history has defined us in terms of guns. It is our history that has caused America to get to where we are today and what will make it difficult for our country to truly let go of guns. Our past differs from many countries’ histories, like Australia’s, and we have been paying the price. I think Australia’s gun laws are amazing, but I think it is unrealistic that they would be passed here due to our country’s relationship with guns. However, I still think it is worth a try. We have gotten to a point where drastic measures need to be taken, and I think it is worth putting in the effort to pass something like this, which, if successfully implemented, can protect our citizens and children. No more people should die from guns; children should not be scared to go to school. Something needs to change, and everything that has been done at this point has barely done anything; maybe this will save our country from gun violence once and for all.