UPDATE: The recent shooting of two police officers in rural Victoria has ignited urgent discussions about gun control laws in Australia. Advocates warn that rising complacency among the public could embolden a “very aggressive” gun lobby.
Gun Control Australia president Tim Quinn stated, “Australians are very, very proud of their gun laws, but there is a level of complacency in the community that everything’s absolutely fine.” Despite 97 percent of Australians not owning firearms, the number of legal guns is at an all-time high, a stark contrast to the aftermath of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which claimed 35 lives.
Quinn emphasized the need for authorities to protect the majority of Australians from the influence of the gun lobby. “We need to ensure that governments and police are safeguarding that 97 percent and not yielding to the gun lobby,” he urged. The power of the gun lobby is a growing concern, echoing sentiments from Stephen Bendle of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, who noted, “We now have over four million registered firearms in Australia, and we have a very aggressive gun lobby that is well-resourced and seeking to make more guns available.”
This alarming trend comes as Australia observes a rise in gun ownership, particularly in metropolitan areas. Research reveals surprising statistics, including a resident in metropolitan Sydney who possesses over 380 licensed firearms.
While the number of licensed firearms has increased, experts like Samara McPhedran from Griffith University point to a decline in firearm-related homicides since the early 1980s, suggesting “little relationship between levels of legal gun ownership and firearm violence.” This contradiction raises further questions about the safety and regulation of firearms in the country.
Current regulations require Australians to provide valid reasons to obtain a gun license, such as participation in shooting clubs or hunting. However, inconsistencies in enforcement across states create loopholes. For example, New South Wales is the only state that mandates testing to ensure license holders use firearms for their stated purposes.
Calls for a national gun register have intensified, especially since it was part of the reforms post-Port Arthur. Alice Grundy, co-author of multiple gun control reports, highlighted delays in implementation, stating, “The timeline said that it would be launched by 2028. We’re concerned that that’s still a few years away and all sorts of things can happen in those years.”
As the debate over gun control heats up, the implications for public safety and community complacency cannot be overstated. The latest developments underscore an urgent need for renewed focus on gun regulation in Australia.
Authorities will continue to monitor this situation closely, as community safety hangs in the balance against the backdrop of an increasingly influential gun lobby.
