Fact-based response to Australia Institute’s gun ownership report
By Sam Talbot
A recent media release from the Australia Institute presents findings on firearm ownership in Australia, raising alarm over an increase in registered firearms and calling for stronger regulations. While public debate on firearm policy is important, it must be based on accurate data and balanced perspectives. Their so-called “scorecard” attempts to rank states on gun control but misses the mark by ignoring the realities of firearm regulation. So, let’s look at some of the claims in their report and provide some extra perspective.
Why there are more firearms – and why that’s okay
One of the main assertions in the report is that the number of firearms in private hands has grown significantly since the Port Arthur massacre. While this is technically accurate, it lacks context. Australia’s population has increased substantially over the years, and given this growth, it’s reasonable to expect an increase in registered firearms. For instance, in Victoria, over the past eight years, firearm registrations grew by 21%, compared to a 15% population increase. The remaining 6% gap may be explained as simply as a growing interest in shooting sports and lawful firearm ownership.
The Australia Institute report also notes that a significant number of firearms are in urban areas, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland. However, that’s not inherently concerning; with a larger proportion of the population now residing in urban and suburban areas, it’s expected that firearm ownership would follow a similar pattern. There’s no evidence to suggest that urban firearm owners are any less compliant with stringent licensing and storage requirements than their rural counterparts.
Misconceptions and misfires
A key omission from the Australia Institute’s report is its failure to recognise the rigorous process required to legally obtain and store a firearm in Australia. Of course, every firearm purchase must be approved by police, and owners must demonstrate a genuine reason for ownership. From there, each firearm is accounted for, and storage must meet strict police-approved standards. As the Australian Shooter’s Alliances’, Tim Bannister explained to ABC radio, “As soon as you have a firearm licence, you are inviting the scrutiny of police into your life. They want to know how you store your firearms, they can inspect your firearms, and each firearm you buy is checked by the police”. The Australian Shooters Alliance is a wholly owned subsidiary of SSAA Queensland.
The Australia Institute’s report assigns scorecards to each state, penalising them, among other things, for not having arbitrary firearm limits. However, this approach overlooks the fact that every firearm is individually assessed and approved by law enforcement. Whether a person owns one firearm or several, each must be stored in a police-approved manner, ensuring compliance and safety.
Another omission is found in the section on Queensland, presenting data on over one million registered firearms and more than 224,000 licence holders without acknowledging the state’s strict regulatory framework. Queensland’s laws impose stringent storage and handling requirements, ensuring all licence holders meet rigorous safety and compliance standards.
Additionally, the report raises concerns about minors having licences but overlooks the fact that Queensland’s system restricts these licences to supervised sporting or occupational use, ensuring that young shooters are trained and monitored under controlled environments. The report also calls for a ban on anyone without a licence from using a firearm but does not explain why or how this measure would improve safety.
While the report focuses on the number of legally registered firearms, it does not sufficiently address the issue of illegal firearms. The most significant threat to public safety comes from unregistered, untraceable firearms, often linked to criminal activity. Efforts to enhance firearm policy should prioritise measures to combat illegal firearm trafficking, rather than imposing further restrictions on law-abiding firearm owners who are already subject to extensive regulations.
Common ground
One key area of agreement with the report is the need for improved data collection and transparency. The SSAA Queensland and the ASA cautiously supports the implementation of a National Firearms Registry, as it would provide law enforcement with a more comprehensive and unified database of legally owned firearms. This measure would assist in ensuring regulatory consistency across states and territories while avoiding unnecessary restrictions on responsible firearm owners.
Firearm policy should be shaped by facts and a comprehensive understanding of existing regulations. The increase in firearm numbers must be viewed in context, with the understanding that every single firearm is checked, approved, and accounted for by police.
SSAA Queensland and the ASA remain committed to responsible firearm ownership, public safety, and constructive discussions on firearm policy.
