A country with some of the strictest gun laws in the world just had a mass shooting

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

quote:

---

Australia has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, shaped mainly by reforms after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. Gun ownership is legal, but it is heavily regulated and treated as a privilege, not a right.

Here’s a clear overview:

1. No constitutional right to own guns

Australia does not have a “right to bear arms.”

Firearm ownership is regulated by state and territory laws, coordinated nationally.

2. You must have a genuine reason

To own a gun, you must show a legitimate purpose, such as:

Hunting or pest control

Farming / primary production

Sport or target shooting

Occupational use (e.g., security, animal control)

Self-defence is not an acceptable reason for owning a firearm.

3. Strict licensing system

To get a gun licence, applicants must:

Be at least 18 years old (or junior permits under supervision)

Pass background checks (criminal history, domestic violence, mental health concerns)

Complete a firearms safety course

Demonstrate a genuine need

Observe a mandatory waiting period (usually ~28 days)

Licences are issued for specific categories of firearms, not blanket ownership.

4. Firearm categories (simplified)

Category A:

Rimfire rifles (not semi-automatic), shotguns (not pump or semi-auto)

Category B:

Bolt-action and lever-action centerfire rifles

Category C:

Semi-automatic rimfire rifles, some shotguns (restricted, mainly for farmers)

Category D:

Semi-automatic centerfire rifles, high-capacity firearms (generally prohibited for civilians)

Category H:

Handguns (strictly for sport shooting, with limits on caliber and magazine size)

5. Registration and storage

Every firearm must be registered

Owners must store guns:

In a locked safe

With ammunition stored separately

Police can conduct compliance checks

6. Buyback and bans

After 1996, Australia banned many semi-automatic firearms

Over 650,000 guns were bought back and destroyed

Subsequent amnesties allow people to surrender illegal guns without penalty

7. Carrying firearms

Open carry and concealed carry are illegal

Firearms may only be transported for approved purposes (e.g., going to a range), unloaded and secured

8. Outcomes

No mass shooting on the scale of Port Arthur since 1996

Large reductions in firearm homicide and suicide rates

Gun ownership still exists but is far lower and more regulated than in countries like the U.S.

In short:

Australia allows gun ownership, but only with strong justification, licensing, registration, and strict controls—and guns are never for personal self-defence.

---