Australia’s Gun Laws Under Scrutiny as Police Hunt Suspected Shooter
Australians are re-examining their country’s gun laws as police search for a suspected gunman in Victoria’s High Country, highlighting concerns about the proliferation of firearms and the potential for dangerous incidents.
Almost three decades after the Port Arthur massacre prompted sweeping reforms, there are now more registered weapons in Australia than before the introduction of the National Firearms Agreement.
Gun Ownership on the Rise
According to a recent report by the Australia Institute, there are over 4 million registered firearms across the country, with two individuals in inner-city Sydney owning more than 600 weapons.
This surge in gun ownership has experts warning of a higher risk of dangerous incidents, particularly with the rise of potentially violent fringe ideologies.
The institute’s research manager, Alice Grundy, noted that a significant proportion of gun owners are concentrated in metropolitan areas, challenging the traditional perception of firearms being primarily used for pest control on farms.
Grundy also highlighted the lack of transparency in gun ownership, with NSW being an exception in providing information on the number of firearms owners within a postcode.
Inconsistencies in State Laws
The National Firearms Agreement set out minimum requirements for all states and territories in 1996, but its implementation has been inconsistent across the country.
No state is fully compliant, with varying laws and regulations governing gun ownership and use.
Experts argue that this lack of uniformity creates loopholes that can be exploited, putting the community at risk.
Sovereign Citizens and Gun Control
The alleged Victoria shooter, Dezi Freeman, is a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen who had previously lost his firearms licence.
Sovereign citizens often hold anti-government views and refuse to comply with laws, posing a challenge for authorities.
Dr Harry Hobbs, an Associate Professor of Law and Justice, warned that this ideology can lead to violent confrontations, as seen in the US.
Gun Control Australia Vice President Roland Browne urged for stricter regulations, including the abolition of the Category A recreational shooting licence and limits on the number of firearms an individual can own.
Browne stressed that gun control is about restricting availability to people who have a genuine reason to own a gun, and sovereign citizens do not meet that criteria.