'Every four hours': Shock stat reveals Australia's illegal gun crisis

More than 2000 guns are stolen every year in Australia, averaging out to one every four hours, according to new research.

The Australia Institute, citing police data from every state and territory, also found that at least 9000 guns have been stolen in the country since 2020, and more than 44,000 since 2000.

The institute said previous research had shown there were now more than four million guns in Australia - more than there were before the Port Arthur massacre that prompted the Howard government's nationwide firearm law reform.

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"Thousands of guns are flowing into the hands of criminals every year, putting Australians in danger," Australia Institute research director Rod Campbell said.

"Theft of legal guns is the main source of illegal guns in Australia, not 3D printing or illegal imports. It's pretty simple – the more legal guns there are in Australia, the more illegal guns there will be."

After a recent major national gun seizure operation by police and federal police around the country, police said 3D-printed or otherwise home-made guns were looming larger as a source of illegal weapons.

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However, they said, while they were becoming a more significant element of organised crime and the sovereign citizen movement, 3D-printed guns were also being found in the homes of licensed firearm users and tech enthusiasts.

A step forward

Campbell said state and federal governments had been "complacent" on the issue.

"This research shows that gun control and keeping the community safe requires ongoing efforts from all levels of government," he said.

"Australians might be shocked to discover that the Howard-era National Firearms Agreement has still not been completed."

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He suggested an immediate step state governments could take, one with Australian precedent.

"If we don't want to go down the path of America, all states and territories can follow Western Australia's lead of capping the number of guns any one person can own," Campbell said.

"There's a clear path forward for governments to act."

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