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There was another New Town – in Australia – which experienced a mass shooting that killed 35 people in 1996 (with an AR-15, similar to the weapon used in Sandyhook). Just 12 days after what became known as the Port Arthur massacre, Australia’s government responded by announcing a bipartisan deal to enact gun control measures, including a national assault weapons ban. There was also a 650,000 gun buy-back-and-destroy campaign, larger than any other in the world. There have been no mass killings since, gun deaths have dropped 50%, and the nation is saving not only hundreds of lives every year but also about $500 million in economic costs of gun violence.