NSW premier calls Sydney shooting of 11-year-old boy a 'tragic reminder' amid gun buyback dispute
The boy was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in the face and neck at a Norwest apartment, reigniting political debate over a proposed gun buyback scheme.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has described the shooting of an 11-year-old boy in Sydney's north-west as a "tragic reminder" of the dangers posed by guns, as a political dispute over a gun buyback scheme intensified in the state.
The boy was taken to Westmead Children's Hospital in critical condition after suffering gunshot wounds to his face and neck at a residential unit in Norwest on Monday evening, New South Wales police said. Police have not yet determined whether the shooting was accidental.
The incident has fuelled renewed political debate in the state over a gun buyback scheme that was announced following the Bondi mass shooting. The opposition has faced criticism from the governing Labor party over what Labor has characterised as a reversal, or "backflip," on its earlier commitment to the buyback.
Details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting, including who was present at the property and how the boy came to be shot, have not been publicly disclosed by police as the investigation continues.
The case has become a flashpoint in the broader political argument between the state's major parties over gun control policy in New South Wales, with both sides invoking the incident to support their respective positions on firearm regulation.
Authorities have not released further updates on the boy's condition beyond confirming he was in a critical state following the shooting.
Sources
- Political fight over gun buyback after boy, 11, shot in the face and neck in Sydney apartment — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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