Transcript for Australia passes gun control laws in wake of 1996 mass shooting

Now to the massacre in Australia hundreds of police are surrounding Eck cottage where a gunman is holding three hostages after killing at least 32 people. Police say the gunman a shooting at them indiscriminately. As they tried to negotiate with him. The nightmare began earlier today on the island of Tasmania. When the gunman opened fire at a tourist site. That was once one of Australia's most notorious prisons. Here's ABC's Linda Pattillo. Police say the worst massacre in Australia's history began after a young man driving a Volkswagen with a surfboard on top. Pulled up at a popular tourist attraction he chatted with tourists before walking into a cafe and firing. He said this does a lot of wants to render that is how many jets here I think and and started muttering train so. And he walking so I'd had stolen over the country started going off. Police say he fired deliberately. Targeting his victims including several children with his high powered rifle. He then barricaded himself inside a guest house with hostages. Firing at police whenever they got. Near the fellow and saw the house of sparring at them so who the situation down there is still extremely done just involves soft. Police know little about the gunman and even less about what motivated him to in. Licked such senseless terror in Australia today. Those who lost friends and family in Sunday's massacre came together in a church near the site of the killings on the island of Tasmania. Today the Australian prime minister proposed banning the type of semi automatic weapons that the gunman used. In Australia today gun control with a sense of urgency it was only twelve days ago that a man with two assault rifles killed 35 people. On the Australian island of Tasmania. Today Australian political leaders quickly agreed to ban all military assault rifles and many shotguns as well.

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