Australia once the gold standard for gun safety: Experts say it's losing control
15 days ago
- #Port Arthur massacre
- #firearm laws
- #gun control
- Martin Bryant's 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania killed 35 people and wounded 23, leading to Australia's strict gun law reforms.
- The reforms included a national gun buyback, banning semi-automatic weapons, and stricter licensing, reducing gun numbers initially.
- Despite initial success, gun numbers have risen to over 4 million, with 2,000 new guns entering circulation weekly.
- Gun ownership per capita has increased, with some individuals owning over 100 firearms.
- Australia lacks a unified national firearm registry, and state laws remain inconsistent.
- 3D-printed firearms and online gun culture are emerging threats, circumventing licensing systems.
- Legal firearms are linked to suicides and homicides, with nearly 2,000 firearm suicides and 200 homicides in the past decade.
- Gun theft is a significant issue, with nearly 9,000 firearms stolen between 2020-2024.
- Australia faces renewed debates about its 'gun culture' nearly 30 years after the reforms.