Australia Debates New Hate Speech & Gun Laws

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Parliament has begun debating new anti-hate speech and gun laws after two shooters killed 15 people at a Jewish festival in Sydney last month. The proposed laws would restrict gun ownership and introduce a government-funded buyback scheme. Anti-hate speech laws would also target groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, would not have had guns under the new laws. Parliament is expected to pass the legislation by Wednesday. The states of Tasmania and Queensland and the Northern Territory are resisting the federal push for a new gun buyback.