Yes. Australia has guns, but they are tightly regulated and not freely carried in public like in some other countries.
How guns are allowed
Australia has a licensing system, so a person must get a firearm licence and have a “genuine reason” such as hunting, sport shooting or farm work; self- defence is not accepted. All legal guns must be registered to an individual owner by serial number, and owners must meet storage and background-check requirements.
How common guns are
There are several million registered firearms in Australia, and the number has grown compared with the late 1990s, even though controls remain strict. Studies estimate there are also unregistered guns in criminal hands, which police target through specific operations and reforms.
What types of guns and where
Most legal guns are rifles and shotguns used in rural areas for work or hunting, with some handguns owned for sport shooting under tighter rules. Urban areas also have licensed gun owners, but carrying guns in public is generally banned except for limited roles like law enforcement.
Recent changes and debates
After high-profile shootings and the original 1996 Port Arthur massacre, governments repeatedly tightened laws, including bans on many semi-automatic rifles and national buybacks. In 2025, reports and political debates focus on whether to further limit how many firearms one person can own and to strengthen oversight of licences.
