Tue Dec 23 09:10:18 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

In the wake of the Bondi Beach mass shooting on December 14, 2025, where 15 people were killed, questions are being raised about how Sajid Akram, one of the perpetrators, legally obtained firearms. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns attributed the delay in Akram’s gun license application to bureaucratic issues rather than suspicion of extremist links. A Royal Commission will investigate the massacre, the surge of antisemitism, and the circumstances surrounding Akram’s ability to acquire guns despite his son’s previous investigation by ASIO. The government is proposing stricter gun laws, including requiring Australian citizenship for gun licenses, limiting the number of guns allowed, and preventing appeals of rejected licenses. These reforms have faced opposition, particularly from rural voters. The other attacker, Naveed Akram, has been charged with numerous offenses, including murder and committing a terrorist act. Funerals are underway for the victims, and many remain hospitalized. The attack has prompted comparisons to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and calls for similar sweeping gun reform, even though some of the proposed reforms have received pushback.

News Article:

Bondi Beach Massacre Spurs Call for Stricter Gun Laws in Australia

Melbourne, Australia – December 23, 2025 – Following the horrific mass shooting at Bondi Beach that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah celebration on December 14, 2025, the New South Wales (NSW) government is facing intense scrutiny over its gun licensing procedures. The shooting, allegedly perpetrated by Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, has sparked outrage and prompted calls for sweeping gun control reforms.

NSW Premier Chris Minns addressed public concerns on Tuesday, December 23, acknowledging a “mess” within the state’s gun licensing bureaucracy. He stated that the delay in Sajid Akram’s firearm license application, which was granted three years after it was initially filed in 2000, was due to bureaucratic inefficiencies and not suspicion of extremist activity.

However, questions remain about how Sajid Akram, a permanent resident of Indian citizenship, was able to legally acquire six rifles and shotguns despite his son, Naveed Akram’s, 2019 investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) for extremist links.

“I’d give anything to go back…to ensure that didn’t happen. But we need to make sure we take steps so that it never happens again,” Premier Minns stated, announcing a Royal Commission to investigate the Bondi massacre, the surge of antisemitism in Australia and the circumstances surrounding the event.

In response to the tragedy, the NSW government is proposing some of Australia’s strictest gun laws. Key measures include:

  • Requiring Australian citizenship for gun license eligibility.
  • Preventing appeals of denied gun license applications based on security agency suspicions.
  • Limiting recreational gun ownership to a maximum of four firearms.

These proposed reforms face opposition, particularly from rural communities and The National Party, who argue they unfairly target law-abiding gun owners. “The NSW Nationals Parliamentary team will not be supporting the Bill that uses gun reforms as a political tool rather than addressing the real issue of antisemitism,” the party said in a statement.

Naveed Akram, shot by police during the attack, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder, and one count of committing a terrorist act. He is currently being held at Long Bay Correctional Complex.

Funerals for the victims are underway, and twelve people wounded in the attack remain hospitalized, four in critical condition. The Bondi Beach massacre has drawn comparisons to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which led to significant national gun reforms. The current push for stricter gun control is aimed at preventing future tragedies.

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