--- title: "Bondi survivor backs gun laws amid repeal push" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/bondi-survivor-backs-gun-laws-amid-repeal-push" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/bondi-survivor-backs-gun-laws-amid-repeal-push" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/bondi-survivor-backs-gun-laws-amid-repeal-push.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/bondi-survivor-backs-gun-laws-amid-repeal-push" category: "Politics" published: "2026-11-13T06:45:39.080Z" source_reported: "2026-11-13T05:25:15.000Z" updated: "2026-11-13T06:45:39.080Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 70 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-13T07:45:24.723763+00:00" --- # Bondi survivor backs gun laws amid repeal push *Leon Elski testified at a hearing for legislation to undo post-massacre firearm restrictions.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and four digests confirm the core claims; one digest lacks detail. - Craft 70 of 100, higher is better. Reports clearly separate fact from comment and include quotes from affected parties. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are factual and do not overstate the article's content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Bondi massacre survivor Leon Elski testified in support of stricter firearm laws at a parliamentary inquiry. - Gun store owners and the Shooters Union president Graham Park argued for the repeal of post-massacre gun restrictions. - Elski described shielding his daughter during the attack and stated that 'something has failed' despite existing checks. - Gun sellers reported significant negative impacts on their businesses due to the crackdown. Leon Elski, a survivor of the Bondi Beach massacre, testified before a parliamentary inquiry supporting tighter firearm laws. The massacre, which occurred on December 14, 2025, resulted in 15 deaths and over 40 injuries. Following the attack, NSW Premier Chris Minns introduced stricter gun ownership regulations, including a limit on the number of firearms an individual can possess. Elski recounted shielding his eight-year-old daughter from gunfire during the attack, stating that "Many bullets passed within centimetres of my head, the heavy sound of large calibre rounds passing through the air is something I will never forget." He told the inquiry that "There's obviously quite decent layers of checks in place, but with all of that said, something has failed." Elski advocated for enhanced checks to ensure firearm licence applicants have legitimate purposes. In contrast, gun store owners and Shooters Union president Graham Park argued for the repeal of the post-massacre restrictions. They reported significant negative impacts on their businesses. Gary Georgiou of Safari Firearms stated the second-hand market had disappeared, and Zac Kirwan of Badlands gun store described the situation as "catastrophic for business." Joshua Pracy of UsedGuns.com.au called the government's gun buyback scheme a deliberate attempt to destroy businesses. Park criticised the government for not consulting the public before enacting legislation and supported the repeal bill. He argued that licensed shooters were among the most vetted individuals and had no connection to the Bondi attack. Representatives for the Australian Jewish Association also appeared, with chief executive Robert Gregory questioning why law-abiding citizens should be penalised for the actions of terrorists. ## Disagreement on attacker's gun purchases The Examiner reported that concerns around licensing arose in response to revelations that Sajid Akram, one of the men allegedly responsible for the Bondi attack, legally purchased six guns. This occurred despite his son, Naveed, being known to counter-terrorism authorities. PerthNow also reported this detail. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the detail that one of the alleged attackers legally purchased six guns despite his son being known to counter-terrorism authorities. The centre-rated report and the right-rated digest also do not mention this detail. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 67% (4) - Centre: 16% (1) - Right: 17% (1) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-13T07:45:24.723763+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-13T08:00:40.988Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led with the testimony of Bondi survivor Leon Elski and his support for tighter gun laws. They highlighted Elski's personal account of shielding his daughter during the massacre and his statement that "something has failed" despite existing checks. These reports also included the arguments from gun sellers and the Shooters Union president for the repeal of restrictions, noting the negative business impacts they reported. ### Centre - The centre-rated report led with Bondi survivor Leon Elski's statement that "Something has failed" and his backing of gun laws. It detailed his account of shielding his daughter during the attack and his call for stronger checks on firearm licence applicants. The report also covered the opposing views of gun store owners and Shooters Union president Graham Park, who argued for the repeal of restrictions and cited negative business impacts. ### Right - The right-rated report led with Bondi survivor Leon Elski's statement that "Something has failed" and his support for gun laws. It included his description of shielding his daughter during the attack and his view that existing checks were insufficient. The report also featured arguments from gun sellers and the Shooters Union president for the repeal of restrictions, detailing the adverse effects on their businesses. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 4 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Canberra Times](https://canberratimes.com.au/story/9391316/gun-shops-at-odds-with-shooting-survivor-over-crackdown) — Gun shops at odds with shooting survivor over crackdown - [Newcastle Herald](https://newcastleherald.com.au/story/9391316/gun-shops-at-odds-with-shooting-survivor-over-crackdown) — Gun shops at odds with shooting survivor over crackdown - [The Examiner](https://examiner.com.au/story/9391316/gun-shops-at-odds-with-shooting-survivor-over-crackdown) — Gun shops at odds with shooting survivor over crackdown - [The Advocate](https://theadvocate.com.au/story/9391316/gun-shops-at-odds-with-shooting-survivor-over-crackdown) — Gun shops at odds with shooting survivor over crackdown - [The Queenslander](https://theqldr.com.au/crime-law-and-justice/2026/11/13/guns-22) — ‘Something has failed’: Bondi survivor backs gun laws - [The West Australian](https://thewest.com.au/politics/security/something-has-failed-bondi-survivor-backs-gun-laws-c-23158551) — 'Something has failed': Bondi survivor backs gun laws - [PerthNow](https://perthnow.com.au/news/politics/something-has-failed-bondi-survivor-backs-gun-laws-c-23158548) — 'Something has failed': Bondi survivor backs gun laws ## Questions **What did Bondi survivor Leon Elski say at the parliamentary inquiry?** Leon Elski testified in support of tighter firearm laws, stating that 'something has failed' despite existing checks. He described shielding his daughter during the Bondi Beach massacre and advocated for stronger checks on those seeking firearm licences for legitimate purposes. **What is the position of gun store owners and the Shooters Union?** Gun store owners and Shooters Union president Graham Park argued for the repeal of post-massacre gun restrictions. They reported significant negative impacts on their businesses and stated that licensed shooters should not be penalised for terrorist acts. **What specific detail about the attackers was reported?** PerthNow and The Examiner reported that one of the alleged attackers legally purchased six guns. This purchase occurred despite his son being known to counter-terrorism authorities, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing checks. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/bondi-survivor-backs-gun-laws-amid-repeal-push. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Bondi survivor backs gun laws amid repeal push", https://mediabias.news/politics/bondi-survivor-backs-gun-laws-amid-repeal-push