John Howard reflects 25 years on from Port Arthur massacre

Former Prime Minister John Howard says the gun law reforms he enacted following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre have “worked” despite opposition he faced at the time. It took just 12 days for Mr Howard to overhaul the nation’s firearm laws following the tragedy which left 35 dead and 22 injured. “I knew it was unpopular with some sections of my own Coalition, but it was very popular throughout the country,” he told Sky News. “To this day I still am stopped in the street, particularly by women with young children, saying thank you for the gun reforms”. In the 18 years leading up to the Port Arthur tragedy there were 13 mass firearm killings but in the 25 years since there have only been three. “The fundamental objectives of the national gun laws were achieved, and those gains have been maintained over the last 25 years,” he said. Asked about whether it is likely there will be an overhaul of the United States’ gun laws during his lifetime Mr Howard said,” I have my doubts, but I’d like to think that it could happen”.

from Breaking National News and Australian News | Daily Telegraph https://ift.tt/32NTyTJ