After the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 John Howard to his credit introduced much needed gun control measures to Australia. In 2017 due to lax control and procedures in New South Wales John Edwards was able to obtain a licence, and a gun, and then with training provided by the gun fraternity, Edwards in July 2018 shot dead his two children Jack and Jennifer before turning the gun on himself. Edwards through what the Coroner described as a ""wholly inadequate NSW Firearms Registry", was granted a gun licence when the facts clearly indicate such a person should have never ever been in possession of a lethal weapon.

Yesterday the NSW Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan made public her findings and recommendations into Jack and Jennifer Edwards deaths. Ms O'Sullivan said; "The evidence before this court plainly reveals that the deaths of Jack and Jennifer were preventable." She went on to say, the procedures and practices within the NSW Firearms Registry were totally inadequate in determining a persons suitability to hold a gun licence. The Coroner made no less than 24 recommendations in her 270 page report. Its time to review and revise gun licencing laws and procedures across Australia and weed out other potential John Edwards, and prevent massively unsuitable people from having access to guns.

Unfortunately five months after the murders of Jack and Jennifer, their mother Olga Edwards took her own life.

Paul1405,
Why did John Edwards do what he did ? Can you please enlighten us on the lead-up.

Hi Paul,

Such a sad case from all perspectives.

I'm not sure what tests are currently being done
in NSW or elsewhere about the eligibility of who
can or cannot be given a licence to carry guns.
I would have thought that those with mental health
issues would not be given the right to bear arms.

I don't know much about the Edwards case. Hopefully
more will come to light. Perhaps something good
can come out of this tragedy as they probe into
what happened and why and ensure that in the future
incidents such as this can be preventable.

Well, I've found more details on the web about
the Edwards case - and here they are:

It seems that John Edwards " had a history of domestic
violence. He also had six prior families and had
fathered a total of 10 children. Five months after
the shootings Olga Edwards took her own life. The
children were scared of their father."

" At the time of the shootings, Edwards was the subject
of complaints of violence, intimidation, and stalking
by no fewer that five of his ex-partners and three of
his children. Apparently there's an inquest which will
examine how, despite these complaints being filed on
the police database, Edwards was able to obtain a gun
licence and legally purchase three refles and two
pistols before the shootings."

" One of Edwards former ex-wives was so terrified of him she
changed her name and moved to Queensland. The inquest
continues.

Paul,

You're right, lax control was the problem.
Had Firearms Registry and the Commissioner of Police done their jobs this tragedy would not have happened with a firearm.

It would still have happened as Edwards was apparently intent on killing, but had he done it a different way then I suspect that your interest would not manifest itself.

your interest would not manifest itself.
is Mise,
Precisely ! Also, what drove him to do what he did ? Any female that marries a bloke that has has 5 divorces under his belt has a question mark hanging over her head !