The Port Arthur massacre on 28 April 1996, when 35 people were shot
dead by Martin Bryant, transformed Australia’s gun control debate.
Public outrage drove politicians from all sides of politics to embrace
gun control. Non-violent ‘people power’ galvanised government resolve to
outlaw semi-automatic weapons, register all guns and tighten gun
ownership laws. Simon Chapman’s book gives an insider’s view of the struggle for gun
control, highlighting the public discourse between shooters determined
to preserve the right for civilians to bear military-style weapons, and
activists dedicated to getting Australia ‘off the American path’ of gun
violence.