Overview

• Safety groups say more than four million registered guns and a well‑resourced lobby are pushing to broaden access.
• Only about 3% of Australians own firearms, yet licences and registrations have risen, with most guns in cities and some individuals holding very large caches.
• Researchers report firearm homicides have declined since the early 1980s and remain low, suggesting limited links to levels of legal ownership.
• Recent police shootings reignited scrutiny of policy settings and prompted public calls to protect post‑Port Arthur safeguards.
• Advocates highlight uneven state rules — NSW use‑testing and WA purchase caps — and urge progress on a delayed national register now overseen by Home Affairs.