11-08-2025
American sparks backlash for his unbelievable attack on Australia - as huge problem in one state becomes our global shame
An American has been blasted after mocking police for rolling out machete drop-off bins across Victoria in a bid to tackle a surge in knife violence.
The US resident, who frequently addresses conservative political topics on his TikTok page Republican Reads Comments, wasted no time labelling the initiative 'silly'.
Machete bins have been placed around Victoria where locals can dispose of their blades before a state-wide ban takes effect on September 1.
The ban will be brought in after the state was rocked by a spate of knife attacks, including a wild ten-person brawl at Northland Shopping Centre in May.
The US resident questioned why taxpayer dollars were being wasted on the bins and not being spent on hiring more officers to protect the public.
'So when a criminal sees one of these boxes, when they're getting ready to do what criminals do, which is commit crime, they're going to say to themselves, "Gee, I better just drop my knife in the machete bin, because I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt",' he said sarcastically.
'I've seen a lot of ridiculous stuff over the years here in the United States, but this, this is pretty silly. Common sense is hard.'
The US resident was immediately roasted online, as several Aussies said he should take a closer look at the problems in his own country.
'I don't think anyone from the USA is in any place to criticise any other country,' one said.
'I couldn't imagine having to choose between my kids going to school and getting shot or homeschooling them.'
'You realise this worked with our guns right?' another said.
'Australia hasn't had a fatal mass shooting since 1996 because sensible laws work,' a third added.
'Now Victoria is banning machetes to tackle knife crime, and we believe this will help too.
'Meanwhile, the US had over 600 mass shootings last year that is almost two a day! We don't need that kind of freedom.'
Others pointed out Prime Minister John Howard's gun buyback in the 90's, after Martin Bryant murdered 35 people in Port Arthur using semi-automatic rifles, was proof these policies worked.
One commented that Australia hasn't had a fatal mass shooting since 1996 because sensible laws work, not the freedom to bear arms.
'Australia has some of the toughest gun laws in the world, and gun crimes are relatively rare. But knife crimes are becoming more common,' they said.
'Now Victoria is banning machetes to tackle knife crime, and we believe this will help too.'
Some social media users sided with the US resident and said the machete bins brought shame to their state.
'I'm an Aussie, trust me when I say we are all embarrassed,' one said.
'Someone inclined to carry illegal weapons isn't just going to go, "Oh wow. I should be a good person now and put this in a bin",' another said.
'The Victorian government is the laughing stock of the world,' a third added.
Another claimed it would just motivate criminals to use other weapons.
'If you outlaw all the guns, they'll use machetes,' they wrote.
'If you outlaw machetes, they'll use hammers. If you outlaw the hammers, they'll use spoons. It's the people, not the guns.'
A machete amnesty will run until November 30 so residents can dispose of their blades at one of more than 40 bins installed at select police stations across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
There is currently an interim machete sales ban in place.
Shopping centres have emerged as new crime hotspots involving machetes with machete-related gang brawls prompting lockdowns and spurring swift police action.
In 2025 alone, Victoria Police have confiscated nearly 7000 edged weapons, including swords, knives, and machetes, averaging 44 seizures a day, a notable spike from previous years.
On the weekend a 14-year-old boy was attacked by six men wielding machetes at Werribee Plaza. It followed a violent brawl at the same location just days earlier.
Penalties for possessing a machete will be up to two years in prison and fines of more than $47,000.
