Recent incidents of stabbing attacks at Bondi Junction and a church in Western Sydney have sparked debate on the need for even stricter laws regarding knife possession and use in Australia.
Calls for a knife crackdown have started to gain momentum as outrage and concern over the recent tragic events is amplified on social media.
The incidents have prompted various calls for a ban on knives, with some arguing that more needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Others, however, have pointed to the rarity of such events in Australia and the country’s already tough knife restrictions, though laws vary significantly between states and territories.
Some have questioned whether banning knives would effectively address the issue, arguing that individuals intent on causing harm will find a way to do so regardless of the tools available to them.
Australia is notorious for having some of the strictest gun control laws in the world, implemented after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, which resulted in the deaths of 35 people.
The government at the time swiftly enacted comprehensive gun reforms known as the National Firearms Agreement (NFA). These laws included the buyback and destruction of certain types of firearms, stricter licensing and registration requirements, mandatory storage regulations, and limitations on the sale of firearms and ammunition.
The debate has also brought attention to the broader issue of violence and terrorism in Australian society, with some calling for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of such incidents.
This includes increasing funding for mental health services, youth programs, and community initiatives aimed at preventing violence and promoting social cohesion.