University of Queensland Gun Researcher
An introduction to Dr Suzanna Fay
I never intended to be a firearms researcher. My journey into this field began unexpectedly in December 2014, when two firearms licensing police officers asked me a simple question after a terrorism seminar I’d given: Did I think the increase in firearms ownership in Australia was due to fear of terrorism? I had no idea that ownership rates were rising, but my instinct told me terrorism fears weren’t the likely cause. That conversation led to an invitation that would reshape my research trajectory entirely—to observe a ‘gun raid’ on a suburban firearms dealer.
As a left-leaning, pro-gun-control criminologist who had spent 12 years in the USA before returning to Australia, I was stepping into unfamiliar territory. I expected to encounter a world that would challenge my assumptions; I was right, just not in the ways I anticipated. What I discovered during that first experience of a gun raid, and in subsequent years of research, was far more nuanced than the polarised debates about gun control typically suggest.
The firearms inspection that changed everything
That first firearms inspection took place at a small suburban gun shop where police suspected regulatory violations. As I watched the day unfold – the tense negotiations for entry, concerns about improperly stored explosives, heated exchanges between the dealer and inspection team, and the painstaking inventory process, I observed something that didn’t fit the narrative I’d been given. While regulatory violations were indeed discovered, what struck me was that none of it felt like deliberate lawbreaking.
Instead, I saw a business owner struggling with outdated technology, overcrowded storage and the complex reality of firearms regulation. The dealer’s violations appeared to stem from that complex reality of administrative compliance rather than intentional circumvention of the law. Watching registry officers themselves struggle to locate serial numbers on various firearms, sometimes having to disassemble weapons to check, highlighted how the registration process itself is naturally prone to human error. Each innocent mistake – a typo, a misread handwritten entry – was also a potential violation that could result in prosecution.
This observation revealed the crucial dual role that dealers play in Australia’s gun-control system. They are simultaneously experts relied upon by police to maintain the firearms registry and subjects of police enforcement and scrutiny. They must report every acquisition and sale, broker all private transactions and populate the registry with information that tracks every firearm across the country. Yet they are also monitored, audited and held accountable for violations that might stem from the inherent complexity of the system itself.
Beyond the stereotypes
During the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with gun dealers, hunters and sporting shooters from across Australia. What I’ve learned has challenged many of my preconceptions about this community. I walked in with expectations that this would be a male-dominated, conservative space unwelcoming to outsiders, which the media representations of gun debates and the gun owning community had taught me, but my experience has been far more diverse and complex.
Firstly, I discovered that the shooting community was warm, welcoming and willing to share its experiences and views. People’s generosity towards me has been humbling. I also discovered that sporting shooting is diversifying rapidly, with women now representing the fastest-growing demographic in gun ownership. Political views span a wider spectrum anticipated; environmental conservation, animal welfare, and community wellbeing are values held by many sporting shooters, not just those focused on firearms rights.
Most importantly, I found genuine concern for safety and community wellbeing. Many dealers and shooters expressed frustration, not with the existence of gun control, but with how it’s implemented and enforced. They often feel treated with suspicion by police, media, and politicians, as if they’re potential criminals rather than the legitimate business owners and sporting enthusiasts and experts they are.
The reality of gun control implementation
My research has focused on understanding what makes gun control work on the ground, not just in policy documents. Australia’s system is often held up internationally as the gold standard, particularly following our rapid response to the 1996 Port Arthur murders. But the reality is more complex than the simple narrative of ‘Australia banned guns and it worked’. The truth is that a large component of any success in these laws (which is a scientific question in and of itself), would be in large part to cooperation of the gun-owning community.
In Australia, gun control requires the cooperation of the very people who were most affected by the new regulations – legal gun owners and dealers. Without their participation, the firearms registry would fail, background checks would be meaningless, and the entire system would collapse. Understanding how this cooperation was achieved, and how it can be maintained, is crucial for anyone serious about effective gun policy. It also means we need authentic collaboration and consultation with firearms owners, who are the very experts who can help shape effective gun laws.
A different kind of conversation
My position on gun control hasn’t fundamentally changed through this research; I remain an advocate for sensible regulation. But my approach has been heavily influenced by the members of the shooting fraternity who have been generous in teaching me, showing me what they do in their businesses and helping me understand their perspectives. I’ve learned that their voice is important, if not critical, when approaching any firearms regulation.
Moving forward
Australia’s gun control experience offers important lessons, but not the simple ones often cited in international debates. The shooting community has valuable insights to offer about how gun control could work better. They understand the practical challenges of compliance, the gaps between policy intention and real-world implementation, and the unintended consequences that can undermine both safety and cooperation. Dismissing their perspectives as merely self-interested opposition prevents us from learning from their experience and expertise.
Effective gun policy requires engaging with all stakeholders, including those who oppose or critique proposed changes. It means listening to concerns about implementation practicalities, acknowledging when regulations create unnecessary burdens without safety benefits, and recognising legitimate gun owners can be partners in public safety efforts rather than obstacles to overcome.
This is the conversation I hope to contribute to through my research – one that moves beyond polarised positions toward evidence-based solutions that protect both community safety and individual rights. It’s a conversation that requires checking our assumptions at the door and approaching each other with genuine curiosity rather than predetermined conclusions.
Dr Suzanna Fay is Associate Professor in Criminology at the University of Queensland, with a PhD from the University of Washington. Her research examines gun control implementation from the perspectives of gun owners, seeking to understand how Australia’s gun laws impact the gun-owning community and seeking what lessons can be learned globally. In addition, Suzanna’s research also explores the impact of AI on criminal justice decision-making, as well as community violence. Dr. Fay’s work bridges academic research with practical policy insights, focusing on comparative approaches to crime, community perceptions and the real-world impact of regulatory enforcement.