I'm a 70 year old Australian who lived through these events. I'm one of the 30% of the population living in rural Australia. My family farmed and owned firearms for pest control and putting down injured farm animals. We supported the firearm legislation. I handed in my rifle and shotgun for destruction. My brother did not because we still needed a rifle for farm use. He had to prove it was for farm use, he had to apply for a firearm licence and the firearm had to be stored in an approved gun locker that can be checked at anytime by police. Unlike the USA, Australians have never had a constitutional right to bear arms. Likewise our culture is collectivist and not individualistic.

I'm an (Louisianian) American who, this December 11th, will celebrate is first full year as a resident of Melbourne, Victoria. Considering I've been alive 48 years and lived through so many mass shootings (including the fear culminated by the D.C. sniper when I lived in Baltimore), Australia is such a breath of fresh air. My (Greek Australian) wife's children have lived their entire lives without ever having to deal with or hear about a mass shooting in Australia, whereas I am used to one mass shooting per 2 days (average). Australians don't seem to have the behavioural issues Americans have, and I am envious of them for the level of peace they have enjoyed that is lost in my country of origin. Speaking only for myself, the peace I have here in unheard of and I would rather live the most mundane yet peaceful life in Australia than deal with the stress of America's gun violence epidemic and the government's lack of a spine in dealing with it...

At school we had a guard with an automatic rifle. We moved to Australia BECAUSE of its gun control. It's hard to compare the peace of mind we live with here

We live on a farm in Australia. The cops regularily turn up unannounced to check our guns are locked up in the gun safe. Makes me feel good that they do this, because I know it lessens the chances of people being lax about how they store their guns and this helps prevent young kids getting their hands on them to kill others or themselves.

From Australia, visited family in America recently. They could not understand how we could go out in public without a gun to protect ourselves. "From what?" we asked. "From everybody else!" they said. "But nobody else has a gun, so we don't need to carry a gun to protect ourselves from everybody else" we said. They thought about this for a bit. And then they asked "But, then how do you protect yourself?" and again we asked "But, from what?" ... You can see how the conversation stalled at this point, and no matter how we tried to explain it we could not get them past the idea that NOBODY carries a gun in public in Australia, except of course the Police!! It was a very strange conversation to have.

the fact american kids have active shooter drills at school and australian kids have a puppet giraffe tell me not to do drugs in a dimly lit van says a lot.

I was having a “discussion” with an American guy on Facebook recently who commented, in a nasty way, that he felt sorry for me for living in a country that “repressed my civil rights to carry weapons and thus leave myself at risk of government genocide any time they wished to take over the country as a dictatorship.” I was astounded at his complete ignorance of normal life in Australia. For those who don’t know, aussies live in the most relaxed, casual and pleasant environment you could imagine. We don’t need guns, we live a perfectly safe life without them.

Aussie here. What I really appreciate as a parent of primary school kids, is that schools are safe places. The kids focus on learning and playing, and have no idea what an active shooter drill is, because they don't need to know (as it should be). The schools aren't fitted with metal detectors, and the gates are open at drop off and pick up time, and people go in and out and it's always felt incredibly safe. I don't have any fear when sending my kids to school that they might be victims of a mass shooting.

Generally, most Aussies love our gun climate. I've never met a single aussie (progressive or conservative) that regrets this decision. Thank you John Howard.

The big difference is that after Port Arthur, the Australians didn't give "thoughts and prayers", they didn't insist that such things shouldn't be politicised and just visit for a photo op. Instead, the local community rallied around the victims and looked after them in their immediate needs, while the politicians got to work to solve the problem.

Man, I'm an American born Canadian who immigrated to Australia. As the gentleman from Lousiana stated below, it is such a joyous life here not having to worry about guns. It is JUST NOT A THING that we have to worry about, we don't pine about not getting guns. We just grab a beer and head to the beach. Easy. I love love love it.

I’m Australian and lived through all this. The Port Arthur massacre was so shocking and confronting. We all expected the government to make big changes and they did. It was highly supported. The gun buyback allowed so many to clean out their old guns too. I love living in a gun free society. It’s freeing.

The fact remains; we get to walk ANYWHERE, run, shop, move through a town without fearing a bullet. That's what life in Australia is about.

As an Australian I actually feel safe. In America I fear for my life.

As an Aussie who grew up with the old system, and was given an antique 7.92mm Mauser rifle as my 16th birthday present, then bought a 7.62mm, I saw the gun buy-back happen after the Port Arthur massacre. I grumbled but I realised that a hobby isn't worth people dying for. I was a responsible owner, but what if I had a really bad day? I was being bullied at school when 16, but the idea of taking the gun to school never crossed my mind, despite being in fear. Shooting a person? In a healthy society, the question doesn't enter your mind. So in the USA, you should perhaps improve social security and education, and people won't feel afraid. 2nd amendment is as outdated as laws about how to treat slaves. 200 yrs ago it was relevant. Why should the biggest military power in the world need a militia?

As I watch this video I've just heard that a 6 year old boy shot his teacher in the USA. I'm lost for words! There is no argument in the world that can support gun freedom. Absolute insanity.

The bloody best thing we ever did. Proud of us Aussies on this issue!!

As an aussie I don't even think about being shot thanks to the gun laws it's literally never been a thought. My biggest concern when it comes to my own safety is making sure I stay out of rips don't get heat exhaustion drink water and use sun screen. I'm proud of the privileges I have.

I grew up on a farm in rural Australia. We had a low power rifle for livestock mercy killings. My mother was the license holder and the rifle was locked disassembled in a gun safe where only she knew where the key was. Ammunition was hidden separately, to this day I have no idea where. Throughout my entire childhood I saw the rifle maybe 4 times. Dad couldn’t be the license holder because he’s had too many speeding tickets.

As young person i feel safe in Australia. I know a lot of people in the United States don't know much about our country but we sure know quite a bit about yours, Including the list of the shootings which are almost daily. Seeing those numbers is terrifying and I'm so lucky to grow up in a much safer environment. I can't imagine having to live with that threat.

Live in Australia. I voted to remove Howard from office, but will always respect him for his response to Port Arthur. My 3 kids go to school every morning and I’ve never once had to worry about them not coming home. Last night I stepped in to break up a fight in Melbourne at 1am. I did so knowing that neither of them were likely to pull out a gun. The guns laws themselves are our self defence in this country. The best self defence of all.

I'm an Aussie. I live in Adelaide. We aren't a big city, but we had issues with armed bank robberies when I was a kid. When Port Arthur happened it was shocking. And though I never liked John Howard, he was like a dog with a bone on this issue. His legacy is pushing through these changes because it worked. Today we don't have those robberies anymore. Gun crime still happens but it has dramatically fallen. Still there remain people who want the laws rolled back, but the sky didn't fall. Farmers with a real need still are allowed to have their weapons, just certain types are now banned. It's not rocket science. No one needs a semi automatic, those who say they do only want to have them. WANT is the optimal word. Want vs need, that's where Australia decided the needs of the many outweigh the want of the few.

I've never had to worry about a single gun walking through Adelaide, any shops, down the street or going out to a pub. It just never crosses your mind and I know I'm safe

I lived in Canda for 10 years and regularly took trips to the US. One long weekend, my partner, a group of friends and I were in Port Townsend, Washington, and came across a 'yard sale' like none I'd ever seen before. A man had 4 or 5 trestle tables set up with rows of firearms - handguns, rifles and shotguns, among others, along with a glass case holding the more valuable collectibles and antiques. We asked him why he was selling them and his response was that he was going to a firearms convention in Denver and needed to make 'a bit of room' for the guns he would be purchasing there. Terrifying. So happy to live in Australia. I agree with many others here and say that it was one of the few good things John Howard did.

As I write this, I'm watching a press conference by the head of Queensland Police where two police officers and a civilian were killed in a shooting incident last night. Two more police were wounded. The shock and pain felt by our whole country should tell you how rare these events are for us. This is the legacy of our gun control.....a community in which gun violence is the outlier, not the norm. And this is true whether you are an urban or rural Australian

I’m Australian and I think our gun laws make us safer. One thing that is often overlooked is the dramatic drop in the suicide rate after gun reform. Australia still has a suicide rate that is too high but I’m glad we don’t have easy access to guns or it would be even higher, I’m sure many people had failed attempts and got the help they needed because a gun wasn’t an option.

I am Tasmanian, Port Arthur Massacre was horrific. Our Prime Minister Howard - that was the best thing he did, pushing through a strict gun law. Respect to him.

Aussie born in 92 here, really proud of the nfa. I hope one day we the world will look back on this and ask the question how anything else could be acceptable.

I was raised by a farmer and a farmer turned police officer. We were taught the importance of appropriate handling of a weapon and how to use them safely. I enjoy shooting as a hobby (guns and archery) but that also comes from years of education. Personally, I like our gun laws, they don't cut off the ability for a citizen to own a weapon, but it does enforce safety measures and the policies involved in purchasing one.

As a gun owner in Australia I think the system works great. I have never been in a situation where I have felt the need to carry a gun in public, and the laws grant me enough freedom to own guns that are as useful as I need.

As an Australian, I expect my government to make difficult decisions for my safety. Thank you, John Howard.

This amongst many other things makes me proud and happy to be Australian.

New Zealand also. First mass shooting here in 2019 resulted in radical gun law change almost instantly. No-one complains about it now. There were strong controls before but clearly not strong enough and we were very shocked with what happened in Christchurch. What happens in the US too often really shocks us but continuous lack of action disgusts us.

Because of the gun control laws in Australia, I went my entire childhood AND teenage years without ever having SEEN a gun. Not once in my entire childhood did the thought ever even occur to me that a gun could be something that would ever hurt me - because literally no one has them. I am 22 and it genuinely wasn't even until the gun control debate in America created international media that I even REALISED I am so lucky to be in Australia, because it wasn't even a thought in my brain for my entire life that guns would be around. I don't know how else to explain it other than IT LITERALLY WASNT EVEN A THOUGHT. Aside from the fact that no one has them, they're also incredibly frowned upon - so if someone is talking about liking guns, they are societally looked down upon in a way - meaning that no one even WANTS a gun. Life here is good!

I knew someone who was at Port Arthur the day this happened - I remember being so worried for her until we found out she had been elsewhere on the site and was physically unharmed. I am so glad that guns are not something I ever think about, no matter where I am in this country. I am a teacher, and have never once stopped to think about how safe I am at work. We prepare for bushfires and onsite emergencies, but not shooters. My boss is American, and she mentioned recently that we really don't have much to be afraid of here. She prefers the rare possibility of a few spiders and snakes that would rather avoid us over "coyotes, mountain lions, bears and people with guns" that will hunt you down. She's spot on.

I’m an Aussie in my sixties and vividly remember that day, whole saga was horrifying. A lot of the other shootings were in Melbourne and was a drug war but still incredibly horrific. not a fan of John Howard and in fact it was Tim Fischer who was massively instrumental in these policies being implemented but seriously, not matter who got the accolades, In was a brilliant decision and achievement and one that I can guarantee is appreciated by 99% of Australians especially when we see what happens in your country!

Rural Aussie here. My family was split. I was for the gun control. I could still own one if I needed for pest control. Didn’t really need. My mother took the change personally. For some reason she considered the law change as criticism SHE was a psychotic criminal. Ironically insane in my opinion. My brother in law, a sporting shooter, still whinges about his storage and inspection obligations to this day. Yet he can still own and use his guns merely for fun. The laws work. They seem reasonably balanced. Job well done.

Going out in Australia, it never even occurs to me that other people may be armed. Any shooting, accidental or deliberate, makes national news, and is a relatively rare event. Most of the police I have talked to, although they carry a gun, say that they have never drawn their weapon, let alone fired a shot, outside the training range. Very happy to live in Australia without the fear of guns.

I’m quite a young Australian and have lived with this kind of gun control for my entire life. In my opinion the way the government reacted to the Port Authur disaster was exactly how they needed to. Wide sweeping change was needed, so that’s what we got. Living in a country where I don’t have to worry about some psycho or mentally ill person shooting me for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time is wonderful and I couldn’t imagine how Americans must feel with the horrific situation they face.

As an Australian, i think it was brilliant to stop the general population from owning guns. The only people that should have guns are legit farmers for pest control, law enforcement and owners that are members of a sports shooting club. If you feel you need to defend yourself with a gun because everyone else has a gun, then your country has serious social issues that need to be resolved. How Americans put up with the amount of mass shootings they have and to have still done nothing about it, says more about Americas culture, than it does about the gunmen doing the shooting, and it blows my mind how desensitized Americans have become to the needless deaths of their own citizens, and their own safety. Using the Constitutional right to own one should never outweigh common sense.

I’m Australian, worked in the Court system at the time that the restrictions were introduced and have seen the worst of people. I surrendered my shotgun because I believed so strongly that it had to happen. Did every person surrender? Of course not, but most did and the overall culture was permanently changed. The most significant reason for the restrictions occurring was because the Prime Minister at the time ( who’s party I do not usually support) put the greater good before his election chances. It was commendable and as an outsider I get the feeling that no party in the US would have the courage to do this

All I can say as an Australian, is that we don’t fear sending our children to school. Enough said I reckon.

That was a surreal day - had front row seats to the stream of first responders racing south, and the highway being shutdown to speed their way, all with a statewide media blackout causing our family on the mainland to know more about what was going on (and not knowing where we were). As for volumes, we still have lots of legal guns amongst farmers, sporting clubs, pest controllers, and security services - we just need to, as mentioned, prove a legitimate need, and meet stringent ownership conditions.

So, I am an Australia who was only 1 year old when this happened, just being at the location and knowing the history is important and impactful, but if the Whitehouse can learn from us, that would be massive change

As an Aussie from a violent household, I was sooo happy this came in. My ex brother wanted a gun in the house and I was scared. My father put his foot down thank jebus. But i did worry, he had a temper he refused to control, I ended up in hospital a cpl times at his hands. Guns have NO place in suburban life. I am good without them even tho Im army trained, I will NEVER have them.

It took 3 months to get the Australian gun law drafted, debated, and enacted. I read someone's comment on another forum where an Australian visited his relo in the US and was told that he's glad he lives in a society that allows him to take his gun with him when he takes his family out so that he could protect them. The Aussie replied that he's glad he lives in a society where he didn't have to take a gun with him to protect his family when he takes them out.

As an Australian, I think the gun rules are good.

Aussie born and bred here, it's not just mass shootings that dropped but incidents of domestic violence shootings, I can remember frequently when growing up in the eighties and nineties, hearing on the nightly news of an father going mad grabbing his gun shooting his partner and kids before turning the gun on himself, this used to terrify me as a kid. I still remember the news on Port Arthur.... We were all horrified, and when the gun buy back came into effect breathing a sigh of relief, I hate to think the way global society has changed that if we didn't have the laws we do now .... Maybe things would be as bad as they appear to be in your proud nation .

I'm Australian (live in Melbourne) and I'm 52 years old. The only time I've EVER seen a gun in real life is on a cop or a security officer. Unless you're a farmer or in law enforcement they simply don't exist here and I love it. I very rarely feel unsafe.

Aussie here. This was the best thing Howard (the PM at the time) ever did. I don't agree with many of his policies, but this was a very brave move and has made us more free in my opinion.

I was in university when the Pt Arthur massacre occurred. I am NOT a Howard (hate the Liberal-National Party) fan, but I will always be thankful and appreciative that he had the balls to stand up and make this tremendous decision for our country. I believe it’s the ONLY worthwhile accomplishment that the LNP have done for Australia. I have lived in the USA (13 mths) and enjoyed being able to go to a range to tick shooting a gun off my bucket list. I never felt the need or desire to have one in my possession. I also felt grateful never to have been exposed to any gun violence while I lived there (1997 Alexandria VA). As a teacher in Oz (21 years), it is highly distressing to awaken as often as it occurs, to the tragic news of yet another mass shooting in a school. It breaks my heart for the teachers and staff and for those precious young lives and their loved ones, destroyed forever. Each time, my mind cannot fathom- why are the powers that be not as willing to save these lives and make a stand like Howard and his team were in Oz? Why does it need to keep happening and why doesn’t America care? At one stage of my career I wanted to do a teaching exchange to the USA. Never! The concept of active shooter drills means that I will continue to teach in a country that respects my life and that of my colleagues and students. For those who argue about the 2A, but it’s my right, blah, blah, blahdy blah. It was legitimately important to have that kind of self protection when your constitution was written and amended. Now? No. Leave the firearms to the professionals and those farm remotely and have to deal with wild animals. America- I hope that in my lifetime you live up to my expectations in regards to gun control.

I am an Australian and I’m glad we have these gun laws. I feel it is a lot safer in Australia than in America.

I'm not sure if this was mentioned, but John Howard was the leader of our conservative party (Australia's equivalent of the Republican party in the USA) at the time, so this was an even more amazing thing for him to spearhead. I was too young to vote when the Port Arthur massacre happened, and since I've been able to vote, I've been more green/left wing in my political views, so I don't have a high opinion of our conservative party or a number of things the Howard government enacted during their time in power, but gun control is something that I'm incredibly proud of our government for introducing.

Great video. Just one comment in the USA the rural population is only 14%, not 50%. As with here, they are just louder, not more numerous.

One of the biggest misconceptions amongst Americans is that the Right to Bear Arms is in the Constitution and therefore can't be changed. Firstly, it's not in the Constitution, it's in the *Amendments* which in themselves show that the Constitution can be changed because that's what the Amendments are, changes to the Constitution. Secondly, Amendments can be overturned and repealed, like the 18th Amendment which brought about the era of Prohibition.

Never voted for John or his party and unlikely to, but there is no argument from me that this is true leadership.

I'm Australian and it always shocks me every time I see images of a mass shooting on tv especially if it's a school. I'm so grateful that the only fear I had at school was which bully was going to say something to me that day. I'm horrified teachers are having to work out plans to keep kids alive and parents are buying backpacks that are bullet proof

As a 29yr old living a few hours from a city in country Australia, i can say that i am grateful that I've never had to do a shooter drill in school, I've never been worried about being hurt while walking to/ from school or around town with friends, I have had the luxury if having arguments and sometimes fights with people and never had to think about a gun being pulled or someone trying to retaliate at a later time. I have shot and used firearms before so its not like guns aren't around me but we just don't have the mentality to use them as a tool to end disputes or defend ones self. Yes gun violence and crime still exists and a lot of gang members and criminals have firearms, but that world doesn't often come into the general public, they are generally kept to within the confines of the criminal world. In saying that it is a tragedy in the true meaning when those things happen and often the whole country bleeds because we aren't accustom to that kind of thing happening to innocent people anymore. 29years, ive never met or known someone to be shot or shot at, and ive certainly never ever feared that a firearm could be used against me. that is what gun control and the change in mentality has gifted me in my life time.

As I grew up in a society where every family unit had a shotgun and a rifle it took Port Arthur to convince me that we no longer were able to live as we had. I like the gun free lives we live. Farmers and country folk can get needed fire arms if needed and can prove that they are unlikely to abuse them.

I'm a nurse, and I can add that post buy back we stopped having many young males in ICU with self inflicted gun shot wounds we did have some gun shots but they became rare accidents. Beside the agressive gun shots like the mass shooting the restriction on guns in the community has saved multiples of lives

I’m Australian, remember this, it was brilliant. Single best thing John Howard did, even those of us who hate him think it was a great move.

I am a 57 yr old Australian. Initially I thought it was needed but went a bit too far but most of it I was ok with. I had to hand in two of my rifles. Now, I'm 100% behind it. We can still own firearms today so long as they are stored safely, the owner is licensed, and they are registered with the state police. You must have a reason to own a firearm but that includes sport shooting, so if you are a member of a club that is good enough. If you want to hunt you must get written approval from the land owner. I am pretty sure 95% of Australians back the laws. Until the U.S. does this, things will not change. I would be honestly afraid to send my kids to school in the U.S. It shouldn't be this way.

I never worried that my children (born post 1996) would not come home from school because of a shooting. Thank you John Howard.

I’ve never worried about guns as an Aussie….not walking home and paranoid someone is following me, not walking to school, nor going to uni. I’ve never walked into a “gas station” (servo) and worried someone walking in after me would be carrying a gun. Self defence in Australia is usually hand to hand, sometimes knives. To us, only cowards carry guns. I’m 31. This is a general feeling amongst people I know.

I am a 63 year old Aussie woman and I remember the Port Arthur massacre vividly. Particular the children that lost their lives. I live in Melbourne and there is a charity foundation called the Madeline and Alana foundation created by their father who also lost his wife in the massacre. Can you imagine your whole family wiped out and others involved in this tragedy who lost their family members. The Madeline and Alana foundation is for children who have experienced or witnessed violence and runs programs which aim to prevent violence in the lives of children. A thoroughly worthwhile organisation. We even have an Aussie football team who celebrate the Madeline and Alana dqy each year and help raise funds. I guess this does keep the massacre fresh in people's minds but that's a good thing. It reinforces what John Howard bought in and although I have never been a conservative voter (Liberal), I am immensely proud that his party stood up to the powerful gun lobiests and had the guts to pull it off. Australia is a much much safer Country and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I've raised my kids to live a reasonably care free life. Go Aussies 😁👍💙

I'm an Aussie. I remember the Port Arthur Massacre like it was yesterday. That bastard is still alive being fed with our tax payer dollars. I use to have a shotgun, a 22lr and an air rifile, all laying under the bed. Then everything changed. Strict licence requirements, storage requirements, different categories of licences etc... These days I no longer hunt, I couldn't be bothered with the red tape. I only ever shot rabbits and foxes. The sad part is that there are still shootings, and most are done with unregistered weapons by unlicensed shooters. Its the honest people being punished.

I was raised in the bush, I knew the need for farmers to have them but people in towns and cities people do NOT need them. I was very happy to see this come into our laws.

I’m an American who moved to Australia in 1970. I’m now an Australian. I’d never choose to live in the USA! We’re happy, free and safe!

Im not a fan of John Howard, for many reasons. But what he and his Gov did with gun control is a point of our history that I am very proud of. 🇦🇺 Everytime we hear of a shooting in the US, its a reminder of what we could have become but chose not to.

I remember walking into a K-Mart store here in Melbourne and purchasing my first 22 rifle as well as a double barrel Winchester 12 gauge shotgun when I turned 18 back in 1973, I remember going to the sports section and going to the checkout with my 2 purchases as well as boxes of ammo and no one cared less in those days, I just threw them on the back seat of my Falcon sedan and drove home, they were different times then and firearms were not really a problem at all, there are gun shops around Melbourne and you still can buy firearms only there are obviously stricter rules, but when you get down to the nitty gritty of it all why on earth does anybody want a firearm in the city or suburbs? let’s face it they are only used to kill and I personally think unless you are a farmer or live in a rural area then that’s fine to have firesrms to keep vermin at bay etc but there is no place in the populated city or suburbs to own one

I'M FROM AUSTRALIA, AND LIVED THROUGHOUT THAT TIME. I NEVER OWNED A GUN SO WAS NO BIG DEAL TO ME. BUT AFTER THE LIVES LOST THROUGH GUNS I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE LAW PASSED. IT'S SO SAD TO SEE ALL THE YOUNG LIVES TAKEN BY GUNS IN AMERICA. WE STILL HAVE MURDERS AND SUCH, THE WEAPON USED IS KNIVES'.

As a 23 year old Australian, I’ve only ever grown up in a relatively gun-free world. When I compare my experiences with that of my American friends, I’m often shocked at how nonchalantly they speak about gun violence and mass shootings.. particularly when it comes to the active shooter drills they had to participate in at school. Whenever there’s a loud bang or someone looks to be holding something beneath a coat or in their bag, their immediate thought is that it’s a gun. Their responses are almost on par with those of war veterans suffering from PTSD. In comparison to Australia, the USA seems dangerous. I’m extremely thankful for the strict gun laws here in my country. I don’t have to worry about being killed any time I leave my home. It’s as safe for me to walk through crowded areas as it is to walk through grassy fields. Even if I were to trespass on someone’s property, I would never be shot at (perhaps scolded or told to bugger off but never killed or hurt). I believe that the only people who should be in possession of a firearm are police, military and farmers. All of which should be adequately trained and extensively background checked (including a mental health check). Every time I look at international news, it seems as though America has had another mass shooting. I see grieving loved ones and horrific videos of gunfire and panicked screams. Tips for parents sending their kids to school with bulletproof backpacks and little first aid kits. Teachers being expected to lay down their lives to barricade doors and told to not let crying, scared children into their classrooms in an active shooter event. Guns should not be held or purchased by normal civilians. Certainly not by teenagers at Walmart.

From Australia. Gun control is a NECESSITY in ALL countries and ALL cultures. You said "WOW!" when they reported that "Self defense was not a genuine reason for owning a gun", but it's proven to be true. Sadly for your country (America), there will NEVER be any kind of gun control. There is ONE REASON ONLY. Americans love their guns more than their children. You MUST CHANGE! I love the video you reacted to, it was well put together, well thought out, well presented.

I am an australain I think its great to not have to worry about getting shot when just walking down the street. The laws are absolutly necessary for those living in citys.

As an Australian I am beyond proud of our Country. I grew up on a farm and my family had guns but we agreed with all the laws, obviously we kept our guns but we had to prove the need. I get so mad when I see what's happening in America and the attitude about guns, and the continuation of mass shootings there. My 19 year old son just got his gun licence and he had to do so much before he could get it, schooling, tests, proof of need, etc etc. Please please think of the people dying not the 'because it's my right'. Ask an Australian do they ever worry about getting shot and they will say no. As an American can you say that. I would hate for our Australian school children to have lessons about what to do if there is a shooter in the school.

As a former feral control shooter and growing up in the country I was against Howard's gun control. Now I'm bloody glad he had the guts to take us all on and I thank him for the hundreds of lives he's saved. May have even been mine or your life saved, we'll never know thanks to him.

I'm An Australian and was 26 when this came about. Based on the American doing this study trying almost to prove the gun control wasn't the fix. Well it certainly made a huge difference and I've spoken to Americans who now live here and say how safe they feel just going to the supermarket and have no intentions of ever going back to live in fear like that again. EVER! John Howard our then prime minister has saved thousands of lives.

so proud that australia is mostly gun free. i love that my children are safe going to school and don't need to practice mass shooting drills

I'm one 100% behind it, the study he's referring to is a study to try revoke Australian gun laws,,,,fact is Australians don't fear gun violence, in schools, or the streets and while random gun death occurs, mass shooting very rarely if ever happen

I grew up (in rural Australia) with guns all around me and owned my 1st of many firearms at a very early age. I was an avid hunter, sporting pistol and rifle shooter as well and, later on got into clay target shooting. When I had to hand my guns in, I was horrified and angry but soon got over it. I later saw military service and carried a firearm for many years as a LEO and, while qualified, never felt the need to own another firearm... now, at almost 60 years of I age I truly believe that this was the best thing the Govt ever undertook and wish that other countries could learn from it.

I’m an Aussie and I was all for it. Have never seen a shooting in my 40 years of life in Australia. Yet when I travelled to the US in 2018 on my first night in the country I had to take shelter in a Burger King in Boston as advised by the personal security the chain had hired because of recent shootings in their car park. I was so innocent and ignorant I thought they were fireworks, wasn’t even aware of the danger I was in.

This is simplistic I guess as an Australian, but, this 2nd amendment right, is just that, an amendment to your constitutional rights and not in the original constitution, and therefore be able to be re-amended.

I am not a John Howard fan, but i will forever respect that decision. May other politicians around the world have the courage to do the same.

I was all for the gun reform back then when I was 17, and now at 43 I'm even more glad that we changed the laws. I like knowing that in public the police are usually the only ones carrying guns. I feel safe anywhere anytime, I'd take that everytime.

I'm Australian 😊 I live with peace of mind regarding guns. I'm proud of John Howard's efforts. It wasn't easy. I currently live in Melbourne, but I used to live in a dangerous city - muggings, stabbings, robberies, and violence. There's a general unease when you live in a dangerous city. You're looking over your shoulder a lot, avoiding eye contact with strangers when you pass them on the street. You always worry about your doors and windows being locked, and if they'll be strong enough if someone tries to break in. I imagine that that's what it's like living in every single city in America.

I live in the suburbs (ie. not rural area), and I was in my early teens when this happend. My thoughts when the firearm legislation was proposed was "fair enough". Decades later, I'm glad we have this legislation in place.

As an Aussie that lived in Texas for 15 yrs and returned to Australia recently, I can tell you how much safer it feels here. During my time in the US, I was in the vicinity of gunshots in public places several times and knew many people with lots of guns - and a lot of those people were NOT responsible at all. At the time of the Port Arthur massacre, I like many Aussies, valued our ability to travel and see our home safely without the chance of a nutjob having a bad day and destroying our lives in an instant, to be able to sit and have breakfast without seeing some old guy next to you with a gun in a holster strapped to his chest while chowing down on his grand slam. I also think it makes us a happier and friendlier nation and yes, we still have crime and idiots but we don't fear our neighbours or feel that we need to protect ourselves from each other like in the US, which is probably why self defence was not considered. Port Arthur did it for us and I would have thought Sandy Hook would do it for the US but no, not even the deaths of little kids was enough. It was then that I lost my faith in the American people. It isn't going to be easy to undo all that brainwashing you guys have been subjected to for years and getting rid of your guns is the least of your worries, it's the mindset of an entire nation.

I was a gun owner and military officer at the time of the gun reforms. I’m currently visiting the USA and two nights ago I yet again had to blow the mind of a guy who asked about them by saying I supported the gun law changes. It’s really hard to explain there’s not a gun culture here and that even a single shooting (generally limited to within crime gangs) makes headline news across much of the country. Also no school kid here knows what an “active shooter drill” is and few people would even have heard of such a thing.

Best thing John Howard ever did.We have the freedom to send our kids to school and know they will come home safe. Go to church, shopping, theatres, and not worry about self defence.

In new Zealand my husband was military and as part of that got a gun license and we had guns in the house. We moved to Australia and the gun laws there prevented us purchasing guns because we really didnt have a good enough reason for one. And we weren't bothered. We agreed that the effort to get one legally was higher then our want for a gun to occasionally hunt with.

A bit of perspective first, I was ex-Infantry when this happened (Yes I am old, and my first love was my 7.62 SLR) I was angry when gun control was introduced. But in hindsight IT WORKED! plus Australia voted John Howard in when we had the next election. (Democracy at work) Farmers were allowed to keep their, no assault, guns and I didn't top myself because of PTSD. Win, win.

As an Australian I have a short story, a few years back a single person was shoot at midnight near my high school, the attack wasn't fatal, the shooter was caught & within a few days the person shot was able to return home without any permanent damage. However, that single incident shocked every person in our school for MONTHS, keep in mind the person shot was an adult not even correlated to our school. My point here is that a single shot fired shocked my entire community for months yet I can only imagine how quickly things would have been forgotten in some other places on the earth.

As an Australian, i love our gun laws. Guns are cool. Guns serve a purpose. But im not scared of being shot. And im not scared that my children might find an unsecured gun and hurt themselves.

I was 18 when this happened. My sister and I had both just finished work in Melbourne Central called Daimaru (a Japanese department store that’s since closed down). Our dad picked us up from work and told us what happened. We were just in shock that this could happen in Australia. Once getting home we seen the full brunt of it on the news channels. WE ALL CRIED AT SUCH DEVASTATION! this mass murder got to the heart of most Australians, we wanted something done. Yes there were plenty of people against it, mostly rural Australians, but why would you need a semiautomatic riffle in the bush? That said I hated the Prime Minister at the time John Howard (Liberal here is like Republicans in US) but he realised this was the point where Australian history had to change. Yes maybe he whore a bullet proof vest, but he still got up and defending his mandate on the gun buy back program in front of a very hostile crowd (do you blame him). As I mentioned I was not a Howard fan, but believe this was the best decision he EVER made as Prime Minister. Sure there are still minor gun violence crimes in Australia, there is still a black market, as with most illegal things. But I am still so proud of what we have achieved in Australia ❤

I was a 7 year old child who lived in Hobart, Tasmania when the Port Arthur massacre occurred. My mum knew one of the victims. Two of the children killed were younger than I was, Alannah (6) and Madeline (3). The mass shooter still lives in my local prison. I am exceptionally grateful that we have our gun laws. My daughter goes to school and my biggest fear is her falling out of a tree while she's there. Also, you should react to something about Tasmania as a place. We are a pretty beautiful and unique little island. 😊

I am Australian and I was a young teenager at the time that our gun policy was introduced, I do remember the buy back times, but the biggest thing I remember about our time during gun ownership was that a school friend of mine went home for lunch and never came back to school. He had gone to his friends place to look at his friends fathers gun, while messing around with it the gun fired and he was shot in the head. I never lived in rural Australia but out there it made sense to have guns, but in city suburbs there was no sense to it....I am so overwhelmingly sad that Port Arthur massacre happened, but as a whole for our country it started the necessary changes, my children grew up without fear of anyone coming to their school and shooting them, our schools don't have or have ever had metal detectors.

I'm from Australia just to get that out of the way. When I hear that America has had over a million gun deaths in the last 32 years I think they are crazy to not change the laws

Aussie here. I was in my twenties when this happened. The prime minister John Howard was leader of the conservatives-equivalent of the Republican Party- so for him to go so hard on gun control, was pretty amazing considering their coalition partners the lnp were the country party, the party that was representing rural Australia. It’s pretty much the only good thing the conservatives have ever done for the Australian people.

Letting everyone have guns is stupid disaster mate. We learned that years ago. Kids lives outweigh gun rights period.

65 yo retired in Adelaide South Australia, You are the most sensible switched on American youth i have encountered. Keep up the good work mate