As debates over gun laws continue to stir passions in Australia, a parallel crisis is unfolding across the seas in Japan, where a surge in wild bear encounters is prompting authorities to rethink their approach to firearms—albeit in a country famous for its strict arms control. Both nations, shaped by tragedy and shifting demographics, now find themselves at a crossroads where public safety, tradition, and political expediency collide.
On September 2, 2025, Walter Mikac, whose life was forever changed by the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, met with New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns to voice his opposition to proposed legislative changes that would enshrine a “right to hunt.” The push, led by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) party, has sparked heated debate in the NSW parliament, where the government, holding just 15 of 42 upper house seats, relies heavily on crossbench support, including the SFF’s two members.
Mikac, who lost his wife and two daughters in the massacre that claimed 35 lives, urged that politics be set aside, insisting, “I have no problem with hunting but we don’t need to go down that path.” According to AAP News, Mikac characterized the proposed changes—including new authorities and ministries—as unnecessary, arguing, “It’s not a system that’s broken, if anything it’s been incredibly successful.” Hunting, he stressed, is already permitted, and the current system does not need further embellishment simply to “make [hunters] feel better about what they do.”
Some critics have alleged that the government’s willingness to entertain the SFF’s proposals amounts to a political “deal.” With the balance of power in the upper house so finely poised, such suspicions are perhaps inevitable. Yet Premier Minns was unequivocal in his response, telling reporters, “We’re not going to support any provision that makes it easier to buy guns.” He also voiced support for a national gun register, a move intended to help law enforcement agencies track weapons across state lines. After their meeting, Mikac said, “I do feel confident in my heart that he is genuine in that intent. However, it’s a case of let’s see the actions matching the words.”
Mikac, who went on to found the Alannah & Madeline Foundation in memory of his daughters, acknowledged the realities of political compromise but pressed the premier for “a better allegiance and alignment” with groups beyond the SFF. “He didn’t like that, but I wanted to go in there and leave no stone unturned,” Mikac remarked, making clear his determination to keep the memory of Port Arthur’s victims at the forefront of policy discussions.
The legacy of Port Arthur looms large in Australia’s collective consciousness. The massacre prompted an unprecedented crackdown on gun ownership, resulting in some of the world’s strictest firearms laws. But nearly three decades later, the issue remains far from settled. Recent analysis by the Australia Institute revealed that the number of registered firearms owned by Australians is now 25 percent higher than it was in 1996. The data underscores a paradox: while the laws are tough, gun ownership continues to rise.
Not everyone is happy with the enduring influence of Port Arthur on policy. In August, Carlo Di Falco, a recently elected SFF member in Tasmania, listed “fit for purpose” gun laws among his top priorities and lashed out at what he called “anti-firearm zealots,” accusing them of “still trying to milk that tragedy for all it’s worth.” Such comments highlight the deep divisions that persist in Australian society over the balance between public safety and individual rights.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Japan faces a very different but equally complex dilemma. Since April 2025, four people have been killed by wild bears, including a hiker in Hokkaido in August. Dozens more have been injured, with attacks occurring in places as varied as the outskirts of Kitaakita, where a woman was left unconscious in July, and a regional airport runway, where a bear was spotted roaming in June. Even the golf course hasn’t been spared—players at a tournament were forced to abandon the green after a bear sighting.
Japan’s approach to firearms stands in stark contrast to Australia’s. The country is renowned for its tight arms control: hunting rifles are permitted only after rigorous police approval. Yet the recent spate of bear attacks has forced authorities to adapt. As of September 1, 2025, town and city officials can authorize hunters to use rifles in emergency situations, but only after ensuring the safety of residents. This marks a significant, albeit limited, shift in policy.
The data paints a stark picture. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, 85 people were attacked by bears in Japan, with three fatalities. During the same period, 5,136 bears were killed—a steep drop from over 9,000 the previous year. Experts attribute the uptick in bear encounters to a perfect storm of factors: rural depopulation, climate change affecting bears’ food sources and hibernation cycles, abandoned farms, and a decline in the number of hunters due to Japan’s aging population.
“The boundaries between wild areas and human settlements have become increasingly blurred,” say wildlife experts quoted by Japanese media. With fewer people tending the land and more elderly residents, abandoned farms are now prime territory for foraging bears. The consequences are being felt even in urban regions: sightings have been reported in the Tokyo area, and public broadcaster NHK counted at least 39 incidents near or inside schools in 2025 alone. In August, a man was attacked while fishing in a river within Tokyo’s mountainous jurisdiction, underscoring how unpredictable and far-reaching the problem has become.
The situation in Japan reveals a societal tension not unlike that in Australia, though the specifics differ. Where Australia’s debate centers on political maneuvering and the legacy of tragedy, Japan’s is driven by demographic change and environmental pressures. Both countries, however, are grappling with how best to balance tradition, safety, and the realities of a changing world.
Back in Australia, the conversation about gun laws is unlikely to abate any time soon. With the government dependent on crossbench support and the SFF party holding a crucial two seats, the fate of proposed hunting reforms remains uncertain. Premier Minns’s commitment not to “water down” existing laws will be tested in the months ahead, as will the resolve of advocates like Walter Mikac, who continue to fight for policies that honor the memory of those lost at Port Arthur.
As both nations confront their respective challenges, one thing is clear: the questions of who should have access to firearms, under what conditions, and for what purposes, remain as pressing—and as contentious—as ever.