We have just witnessed the 30th anniversary of the horrific Dunblane attack in Scotland, UK, and are fast approaching the 30th anniversary of the terrifying Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, Australia. Both mass shootings infamously took place in 1996 and highlight the important need for gun control. While these are obviously not fond memories for anybody, there is undoubtedly a silver lining for both of our countries.
Of course, the world witnessed a tragic and devastating loss of so many innocent lives in two unconscionable human catastrophes that occurred just six weeks apart from each other. However, the governments in both of these countries subsequently took drastic action in response to this. The use and ownership of firearms amongst their respective citizens was severely limited.
There was heavy backlash to these new tougher laws from fierce opponents of gun control. These reforms were wholeheartedly enacted. It was all done astonishingly quickly and with resounding success.
When this all happened, John Major was the British Prime Minister, and John Howard was the Australian Prime Minister.
The Shared Gun Control Success in the UK and Australia
Australia’s federal government implemented stricter gun control and restrictions in 1996. Their gun death toll was more than halved in the fifteen years thereafter. This figure plummeted from 516 in 1996 to 187 in 2011.
Meanwhile, Scotland witnessed a decrease in handgun offences of almost 80 per cent in the five years after Dunblane.
Thus, the sharp reduction in gun violence makes it undeniable that both the UK and Australia indisputably made the right decision by cracking down on firearm usage and ownership.
The same cannot be said about the USA. Yearly gun fatalities have absolutely skyrocketed across the pond.
America Suffers From Recent Gun Violence
As I am writing this article, the Americans have just suffered two more gun attacks in just the last week alone. One of these was the 2026 Old Dominion University shooting in Norfolk, Virginia. The other one of these was the Temple Israel synagogue attack in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. They both took place on Thursday, the 12th of March.
Throughout this century alone, annual gun deaths in the USA have soared from 28,700 in 2000 to 48,800 in 2021. This roughly represents a 70 per cent increase in American firearm mortalities in just the first two decades of this century.
Why America Suffers More Than the UK and Australia
The hard facts and evidence must be crystal clear for everyone to see. America can, and should, become a significantly safer and happier place for all of those who live there. But this can only ever be achieved if their politicians finally grow the tenacity to bring their own gun laws significantly more in line with ours in the UK.
This issue really should not be partisan nor divisive in the slightest. It simply is not the case that wanting genuine gun control makes one more left-wing. After all, the UK and Australia were both led by conservative, centre-right governments when Dunblane and Port Arthur occurred in the first half of 1996.
The ruling Conservative and Unionist Party (UK) and the Liberal National Coalition (Australia) both strongly supported tightening regulations over firearm usage. They held entirely the same position as the progressive, centre-left Labour opposition parties in both Anglophile countries.
The Importance of Working Together to Solve Problems
We must all put aside our tribalism and differences throughout these tough times to limit gun violence. This is largely what caused the practical solutions to work so well in the UK and Australia.
All Americans must finally acknowledge that following our very impressive example on gun policy truly is the only logical direction in which to go. It is an issue which must, at long last, be resolved. There should not be any left versus right divisions, nor progressive versus conservative divisions anymore, in my opinion.
But it is definitely about being right instead of being wrong, and putting life ahead of death. It really is time for a proper change for America and their gun culture.
Featured image credit: 42-BRT via Wikimedia
