A government inquiry into the rise in antisemitism across Australia before two Muslims, a father and his son inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group, opened fire with legally owned guns at the Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Dec. 14, 2025, recommended last week that authorities prioritize gun control.
The rampage ended when Ahmed al Ahmed—a Sydney shop owner born and raised in Syria—tackled one of the two shooters from behind, wrestling the long-arm gun from him. Because he was unarmed, he was left vulnerable and was shot multiple times by the second shooter, who was positioned on a nearby footbridge.
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene. His son, Naveed, who was hospitalized after the attack, has since been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist attack on the Jewish community.
In response, a government commission has recommended that the federal and state governments prioritize implementing nationally consistent gun laws and a gun buyback scheme to compensate gun owners who must hand in weapons. The government has also proposed limiting the number of guns someone can own to as few as four and implementing periodic reviews of existing gun licenses.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had agreed to implement all the recommendations that were relevant to federal authorities, but Luis Valdes, a national spokesman for Gun Owners of America, does not think that is the right move.
"Gun control has been proven a failure, not just in the United States but worldwide, because criminals are criminals. They break the law," he says.
Valdes goes on to point out that prior to the Dec. 14 attack, Australia was already one of the most restrictive countries in the world when it came to firearms ownership, and it did not stop the criminals "because criminals don't care."
"Murder has been illegal since Hammurabi carved into a stone tablet thousands of years ago," he adds. "People still commit murder."
Valdes says it is "sad" to see Australia stepping further away from freedom, but he hopes the U.S. heeds the warning.
"We are a free people, and the Australians used to have that belief," he notes. "If Australia is going to serve an example, let it serve the example to the American people of what not to happen."
