Germany killings prompt call to ban guns
The Age, March 12, 2009
A school shooting massacre in Germany has prompted renewed calls for a ban on semi-automatic handguns in Australia.
A teenage gunman dressed in black opened fire inside his former high school in southwestern Germany on Wednesday killing 15 people, 11 of them women and girls, before turning the gun on himself, authorities say.
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says the federal government needs to ban semi-automatic handguns to stamp out their illegal use.
“I appeal again for this government and all governments to get rid of these handguns out of circulation,” he told reporters.
There were “very, very, very few reasons” for people to have automatic handguns, he said.
Senator Brown said there were 20,000 illegal handguns in circulation which were prized by criminals.
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce says criminals wanting an illegal handgun could go to Sydney's Kings Cross red light district to pick up one.
“Maybe Senator Brown would want to suggest some law enforcement measures to get the illegal ones off the street.”
The previous Howard government banned rapid-fire rifles and shotguns following the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Martin Bryant, then a 28-year-old from New Town, killed 35 people and wounded more than 20 others when he went on a shooting rampage in the Tasmanian historic site on April 28, 1996.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said earlier that he doubted any Australians were involved in the tragedy.
Mr Smith said the “terrible tragedy” amounted to every parent's worst nightmare.
“We can't confirm at the moment that no Australians are involved,” he told ABC Television.
“Our consular officials are trying to do that very quickly, effectively as we speak.
“I don't want to alarm people. We are not expecting that any Australians will be involved.”
Australia sent its condolences to the German people and the families affected, Mr Smith said.
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