Following on from the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting on 27 October, I reiterate that B’nai B’rith Australia/New Zealand shares in the grief suffered at the senseless loss of life of eleven Jewish worshippers in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning. The rise of antisemitism is extremely troubling, and the perpetrator of this vile crime will be brought to justice, although the 11 lives lost cannot be recovered. 
 
Australia’s gun laws have prevented mass shootings since they were invoked in 1996 after the Port Arthur Massacre  where 35 innocent lives were lost. We have had gun deaths, but  usually not more than one death in any incident. I fail to understand why the US Congress cannot look to Australia for a fine example of gun management and overturn “The Right to Bear Arms.”
 
I am troubled by the rise in attempts to have our extremely effective gun laws overturned or even just watered down by political and other interests within our safe Australian community.
 
Please see the following links….
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-05/australias-gun-laws-are-being-watered-down-according-to-report/9019934
 https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/world/us-australia-gun-control/index.html
 https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/the-australians-who-want-less-gun-control
 
I am also concerned that gun theft is a major problem, as it is stolen firearms that are most likely to be used in violent crimes.
 
Please read:
https://www.guncontrolaustralia.org/gun_theft_skyrockets_over_ten_years
 
See also, Facebook post from Mark Dreyfus including responses….
https://www.facebook.com/1549894294/posts/10216839574172219/
 
Read more about it at: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/23/gun-lobby-makes-no-mention-of-guns-in-victorian-election-ad-blitz

If you agree with my outrage, I implore you to write to your members of Australian parliament, both Federal and State.
 
Morris Tobias
President - B’nai B’rith Australia/New Zealand
Senior VP - B’nai B’rith International