Both sides of US politics point to Australia on gun reform & More News Here

After the Port Arthur bloodbath in 1996, Australia banned all semi-automatic weapons and a nationwide gun buyback was carried out.

Gun management advocates believes Australia’s ban has been a shocking success, with the instance steadily cited after the Parkland college bloodbath in 2018.

But many in America consider the alternative, in accordance to David Smith from the US Studies Centre on the University of Sydney.

“There’s all sorts of crazy misinformation claiming that Australian crime rates have skyrocketed and Australians are living in fear,” he instructed 9news.com.au.

“This is all just pure fantasy but it circulates through social media.”

The delusion has been bouncing across the web for the reason that 1996 gun buyback, first by way of chain emails, then on social media.

“Australia has become this mythical example of what happens when a country gives up its guns,” Smith mentioned.

“There are many Americans who believe Australia is a warning of what happens when guns are taken away.”

Polling exhibits most Americans need better restrictions on who should buy weapons, and what weapons might be offered.

But there has not been important motion on gun management nationwide since 1994, when a ban on semi-automatic rifles was enacted.

The invoice, drafted partially by then-Senator Joe Biden, expired in 2000.

Since then the quantity of mass shootings has skyrocketed.

Smith mentioned for the reason that assault weapons ban, gun coverage has modified dramatically within the US.

“For Republicans, guns are a symbol of resistance against the state,” Smith mentioned.

“And for Republicans the ideal society is one where everybody is armed.

“Violence might occur, but when everyone is armed, the great guys will prevail.”

The symbolism of standing up against gun control means few Republicans will vote against any meaningful measure.

The legislation Democrats in Congress are most hopeful they can pass are mandatory background checks.

This would require gun sellers to verify a purchaser does not have a criminal history or violent mental health problems.

But such a rule probably would not have prevented the Uvalde school shooting.

“The gunman had simply turned 18. He had gone and legally purchased two rifles. Unless he had a felony report or violent background, a background examine would have completed nothing,” Smith said.

“The gunman in Buffalo had handed a background examine.”

Texas has some of the most lax gun laws in the United States, but even strict state laws concerning firearms could soon be overturned.

The US Supreme Court is considering whether to strike down a century-old New York law limiting who can carry a gun in public.

If it is struck down, it will create a precedent which could force the dismantling of state-based gun laws around the country.

Even if the United States government was capable of enacting an Australian-style gun buyback, implementing it would be a different issue.

“There are greater than 70 million semi-automatic rifles in circulation,” Smith said.

“Any authorities that needed to ban semi-automatics now would have to be apprehensive a few violent backlash.”

In order to pass a bill through the Senate, 60 votes would be needed. Democrats currently have 50 votes.

They could technically pass the bill with a bare majority of 50 by overturning the filibuster rule.

But Joe Manchin, a Democrat who has touted his support for gun rights in his campaigning, has already ruled out doing away with the filibuster.