There are over 4 million privately-owned guns legally registered in Australia — more than ever before. How they're regulated has again come under scrutiny following the Bondi terror attack.
As part of new gun control reforms, the Federal Government introduced a National Gun Buyback Scheme and a cap on the number of guns one person can own, as well as restrictions on certain firearms, tighter license requirements and background checks.
But only a few state and territory governments agreed to strengthen their legislation.
Stephen Bendle, Senior Advocacy Advisor at the Alannah & Madeline Foundation and a convener of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, told SBS Examines he was disappointed by the lack of agreement.
In Queensland [they] have the most firearms registered in any state in Australia, and they've done nothing to restrict firearms.Stephen Bendle, Senior Advocacy Advisor, Alannah & Madeline foundation
"They've made some firearm offences with greater jail time, for example. But that only really puts the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
"That doesn't do anything to restrict the availability of firearms," he said.
Tom Kenyon, CEO of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, said his organisation does not endorse most of the Federal Government's changes.
He told SBS Examines the government should instead focus on intelligence sharing and background check processes.
Everything that the Federal Government is proposing, with the exception of better background checks, fails to address the problem.Tom Kenyon, CEO, Sporting Shooters Association of Australia
"The Federal Government passed legislation in January, where that facilitates better background checks and better intelligence sharing.
"We fully support it, because no one wants terrorists to be in possession of firearms, whether legal or illegal," Kenyon said.
In this week's episode, SBS Examines asks — why do some people support gun law reforms, while others oppose them?
