Gun Control In Australia Essay

The Port Arthur Massacre of 28th April 1996, was a killing spree by Martin Bryant at the historic Port Arthur, in eastern Tasmania, Australia. This event saw the implementation of law reform for gun control in both federal and state jurisdictions to remedy justice to future criminals. The media’s attention influenced change for future justice, establishment of political parties and charities led to support for victims of crime as well as ensuring the protecting of constitutional rights.

The Australian Criminal Justice system has an intricate and diverse structure that makes it one of the most unique systems in the world. The Commonwealth of Australia was approved by the British Parliament in 1900 and came into existence on January 1, 1901. The federal constitution combined British and American practices, with a parliamentary government, but with two houses - the popularly elected House of Representatives and Senate representing the former colonies. This began the start of a new era of policing. (Findlay, Odgers, Yeo). The Commonwealth of Australia is a federalist government composed of a national government and six State governments. There are nine different criminal justice systems in Australia - six states, two territories, and one federal. The eight States and Territories have powers to enact their own criminal law, while the Commonwealth has powers to enact laws. Criminal law is administered principally through the federal, State and Territory police. (Chappell, Wilson, Heaton). In this essay an in depth analysis of the Australian criminal justice system will be given, along with a comparison to the United States criminal justice system throughout the essay. As well as an evaluation of the effectiveness of the system and finally a brief summary of how the Australian criminal justice system structure could be improved to better suit the evolving society. Australia has a complex and very intuitive system of policing that

Society’s concerns about protection from violent crimes involving firearms have encouraged Canadian Parliament to pass tougher gun control legislation. The Federal Government responded by passing Bill C-68 that created the Firearms Act,

After all these guns were bought they were then destroyed. This program was a legal response to the port Arthur massacre created to reduce the risk of gun related deaths and murders in Australia. This program resulted in the government buying back more than 660,000 guns from Australians. This legal response was effective in the way that it greatly reduced private owners from being a harm to themselves and others. The program also resulted in a 50% decrease in gun related deaths.

The National firearm act of 1934 regulating only fully automatic firearms like sub-machine guns is approved by Congress. Then Roosevelt wins approval of the National Firearms Act of 1938, which requires the licensing of interstate gun dealers, who must record their sales. It prohibits sales to individuals under accusation or convicted of crimes of violence. The Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed for the purpose of keeping firearms out of the hands of those not legally permitted to possess them because of age, criminal background, or incompetence. In 1972 the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is created listing as part of its mission the control of illegal use and sale of firearms and the enforcement of Federal firearms laws. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act enforces a five-day waiting period on the purchase of a handgun and requires that local law enforcement agencies conduct background checks on purchasers of handguns. Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 band all sale, manufacture, importation, or possession of a number of specific types of assault weapons. Given this information you

This essay investigates the Australian gun laws and whether they are effective or not. In particular, with a focus on what the current gun laws are and how they have or have not worked also if they need to be updated. The current gun laws were first introduced by John Howard in 1997 after the mass shooting in Port Arthur where 35 people were killed and a further 18 injured on the 28th of April, 1996 (Sharpe, 2016), the laws were them further improved in 2002, after the Monash University shooting, where a commerce student with mental impairments came in to class armed with 6 loaded handguns, 2 students died and an additional 5 were injured (ABC News, 2015). It has been almost 20 years since the introduction of the current gun laws, the essay

Much of the Federal legislation was implemented to comply with international terrorism treaties that Australia was party to (PA, n.d.-a). Examples of this legislation include ‘Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1994’, which complied with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of

In about every nation, gun control has always been an issue of controversy. Gun control laws are quite different from country to country, each possessing different requirements, specifications, and ordinances, so on and so on. What will be examined are the specified gun control laws in three international countries, ranging from Canada, Australia, and Japan, as well as a comparison and contrast of the the similarities and unique differences toward American gun control laws and those in other countries, and finally, the effects of having loose gun control laws. Unlike America, these countries possess stricter laws regarding gun control.

The controversy over assault rifles is one of the most problematic issues related to the contributions of gangs, drug traffickers, and most criminal activity. More often than not, criminals have access to the weapons of their choice more easily than it should be. Getting them from licensed dealers, black markets, and family members’ homes, the availability of these militia weapons has become to effortless to obtain. The rise of criminal activity is part of the reason more than one-third of high school students have easy access to a weapon or gun. “Four out of five guns brought to school are actually brought from their own homes” (Page par 2). This is one of the biggest problems when faced with where criminals get their

The response to the Gun laws created in 1996 were varied. Parties such as the Australian Shooters Party, and organisations such as the Alannah and Madeline Foundation were created after the Massacre at Port Arthur. These organisations, although very different, were both created due to that event at Port Arthur and the laws that followed. However the Australian Shooters Party can be seen as a controversial one, as their main aim is to redeem their rights to bear arms. However, this Party, and the people who oppose gun laws, still deserve to have their voice heard.

Taking into account of the recent shooting sprees, the gun control debate has started again. However, people have contemplated: “Why does America need gun laws” and “Why are so many states disagreeing about the restrictions that need to be put in place for civilians looking to purchase firearms.” The reasoning for such contemplation is that the fluxuating strictness of gun laws have led to several incidences within states that have strict gun laws due to the fact that the perpetrators of these incidences have purchased their firearms either from black markets, or states where the severity of gun control is at minimal levels.

In addition, Bill C-150 made it illegal for criminals and the mentally unstable to possess guns. In 1977, the House of Commons passed Bill C-51, establishing new kinds of gun ownership permits called firearms acquisition certificates, which increased barriers to access by requiring applicants to pass background checks.

Scholarly Essay: Gun Control There has been considerable debate recently in Canada over the issue of gun control. The Canadian parliament enacted the Firearms Act to enforce gun control by requiring gun owners to register their firearms. Just recently, the government of Alberta lead in a charge, including five other provinces and numerous pro-gun groups, complaining that the law is unconst...

Crimes involving the use of firearms consist of around 0.4 percent of all documented offences in England and Wales, doubling since the mid to late 1990’s (Povey and Kaiza 2006). This is due to the ever more restrictive legislation and public policy responses. A small number of high profile firearm homicides have significantly increased the public’s apprehensions about the problem of illegal firearms. Police, politicians and media reports have illustrated the emergence of a criminal ‘gun culture’, predominantly in the inner city areas of England (Bennett and Holloway 2004). Comparatively little is known on the other hand, regarding criminal attitudes towards and within the market in illegal firearms therefore limiting the progression of policy, policing practice and an understanding of the impact of firearms legislation (Bryan 2001).

For Greece, the manufacture of small arms, ammo, and their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid license. While looking at Australia it shows that it is similar as Greece and requires a license. Ireland is also needing a license but it is not conducted in practice. So these countries aren’t much different in the gun industry category then they could be.