Port Arthur Massacre

The **Port Arthur Massacre** was a mass shooting that took place in the Tasmanian town of Port Arthur in 1996.

## Background

Many countries throughout the world are envious of Australia. One of the reasons why this is the case is because they have some of the strongest gun control laws in the world. Prior to 1996, the state of Victoria had already taken a lead - in the wake of two mass killing sprees. The first by Julian Knight at Hoddle Street in 1987, and the second by Frank Viklovic at Queen Street in 1988. Knight survived and is now in prison - and is very much behind the gun laws because he knows such laws would have stopped him. Viklovic did not survive. But no one was ready for the events of Port Arthur.

## The perpetrator

The actions of Martin Bryant on this day seemed to be an act of revenge for a series of perceived injustices - such as the purchase of a property called Seascape under his nose and that of his father by Noelene and David Martin - leading to what Bryant believed was an assisted suicide by his father. Combined with a number of other perceptions and a considerable amount of money he'd inherited, he felt the world was against him and in particular Asians. It was revealed much later that he was also keen to be known as "notorious" in what was noted as a variation of the desire to seek revenge. The plans for the massacre were made between four and twelve weeks prior to the event.

## The massacre

*(Note that these details were revealed in the later court proceedings and should not be read if one is psychologically vulnerable)*

Bryant left his home in Hobart and travelled to the Seascape property just outside Port Arthur. There he shot and killed both of the Martins, the first two victims of the massacre. After that he proceeded into Port Arthur and after paying the entry fee required parked his car near the Broad Arrow Cafe. He ate a meal there and witnesses observed that he appeared nervous as he ate, complaining about the lack of Japanese tourists. After finishing his meal and returning the tray, he took an AR-15 rifle and commenced shooting claiming three lives including two who were Asian - two Malaysians in fact. In fifteen seconds nine more died and nine were injured.

He then moved to the gift shop where he killed eight more people and injured another two. By this time news of what was happening was spreading as some managed to escape the building through the kitchen to the car park. However some believed the shooting was a historical re-enactment and approached the area instead. Bryant continued to fire shots killing more people and wounding others before returning to his car to change weapons and then continuing the carnage. People were hiding now but four more people were killed and eight more were injured.

Bryant then got into his car to leave the area, but on his way he killed more people - including two children. Getting to the toll booth he killed more people, some of whom had seen the murder of the children. This added seven more people to the death toll and one more to the injured list. Finally arriving at a service station on the other side of toll booth he killed one more person before stealing a car to return to the Seascape property, with it's owner locked in the boot as a hostage. Police arrived at that scene minutes later.

Back at the Seascape property, Bryant shot at a number of passing vehicles before handcuffing his hostage to a stair rail in the house. He also set the stolen car on fire. Police arrived at the property and a stand off began.

The following morning the house was engulfed by fire. Bryant told the police to "come and get him", but the police held off believing the hostage had to be dead and waited him out. This paid dividends as Bryant eventually tried to escape as his clothes were on fire. He was caught suffering burns and taken to hospital for treatment and arrested.

## The fallout

The entire population of Australia reacted with shock and horror. Bryant was held in hospital while awaiting trial, with security tight as two applicants for the job were found to be looking to take revenge on him. The federal government of Australia, led by Prime Minister John Howard, sought to nationalise new guns laws in response beyond those already in effect in Victoria. This included bans on the sorts of weapons Bryant used and many related weapons. Fringe groups tried to stop them claiming a lack of liberty, but public opinion turned against these objectors when connections to the National Rifle Association in the United States were revealed. This successful effort was seen as a positive legacy of Howard's term as Prime Minister.

The people of Dunblane in Scotland, who only weeks earlier had their own issues with a massacre, connected with the people of Port Arthur. This came in a way via the support of United Kingdom Prime Minister John Major for his Australian counterpart. The United Kingdom also introduced gun laws in 1997.

The two children who died were remembered with the formation of a foundation in their name - the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. It was created by the father of the girls, Walter Mikac, and Doctor Phil West who had children the same age. Walter's wife Nanette also died in the massacre. It's mission is to protect children from violence. It was launched in 1997 by Prime Minister Howard almost exactly a year later.

Bryant initially denied killing anyone, but eventually pleaded guilty to all 35 murders - for which he was given 35 life sentences. The same was the case for all other charges relating to the wounded and other acts - for which he was given 25 years each. All sentences were to be served concurrently, but his prison papers state that he is never to be released. Today Bryant is in solitary confinement at Risdon Prison in Hobart, after making two attempts on his own life in 2007. He has been identified by forensic psychiatrist Ian Joblin to be borderline mentally disabled, with an IQ of 66, equivalent to an 11-year-old. Consequently court-appointed psychiatrist Ian Sale stated Bryant "could be regarded as having shown a mixture of conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity and a condition known as Asperger's syndrome". Psychiatrist Paul Mullen, hired at the request of Bryant's legal counsel, found that Bryant was socially and intellectually impaired. Furthermore, finding that he did not display signs of schizophrenia or a mood disorder, Mullen concluded, "Though Mr. Bryant was clearly a distressed and disturbed young man, he was not mentally ill". In 2008 a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome was confirmed.

The Port Arthur massacre is the worst massacre by a single gunman in Australian history.

## *Opinions*

* I refuse to believe Bryant is Autistic (Asperger's Syndrome). His IQ being 66 and yet being able to drive a car and handle a gun just doesn't sit well with me. Joblin's note about Borderline raises the possibility of Borderline Personality Disorder. One thing that struck me during the court process was when he was asked if he had anything to say, he answered "Can I have a can of Pepsi, please?" There is no way an Asperger's diagnosis could have been made with such a low IQ. Asperger's is associated with high intelligence. He was even four points below what could have been a PDD-NOS diagnosis under the DSM-IV. I firmly believe that a genuine Autistic with such a low IQ could not possible have done what Bryant did. **TLPG** 12:40, September 12, 2020 (UTC)