(VIC) Limit the Number of Firearms a Person Can Own to 5

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Author: Ruby Anderson | Publish date: 16/12/2025

Trigger Warning: Gun violence.

• P: In VIC, there is no limit on the number of firearms a person may own. 

• S: The Minister for Justice should amend Part 2 Division 1 of the Firearms Act 1996 (VIC) to introduce a limit to the number of firearms a civilian, who is not a collector or dealer, may own to 5.

  
  

Problem Identification: 

Under Part 2 Division 1 of the Firearms Act 1996 (VIC), there is no limit to the number of firearms a civilian can own. This is provided that the individual has ‘a “Genuine reason” and a “Genuine need” to acquire and use a firearm’.

This means a person can own an unlimited number of guns in VIC. According to the Australia Institute, the absence of limits means that VIC is ‘failing to meet key criteria for effective gun control’ and it is a ‘growing problem’. The Alannah and Madeline Foundation (AMF) has said that this has ‘allowed firearm owners to stockpile firearms’. This is known to cause a threat to public safety, contribute to illicit circulation and contradict legislative requirements for a ‘genuine reason’ to own a gun.

Context: 

VIC Police has specified that ‘genuine reasons’ for owning a firearm include primary production, hunting and sport shooting. According to the Australia Institute, personal protection is not a ‘genuine reason.’ However, the Australia Institute reported that the ‘genuine reason’ condition often ‘require[s] little proof,’ which means that there can be an increase in the number of guns one person owns ‘without adequately ensur[ing]… the person applying…requires one.’ 

The Australia Institute reported in January 2025 that there were 236,609 firearm licenses and 960,693 registered firearms in VIC as of June 2024. This means there were, on average, 4.1 firearms per license in VIC in 2024, which is an increase from 3.6 in 2016. Gun Control Australia (GCA) has noted that ‘some gun owners have amassed hundreds of weapons.’

Professor David Bright at Deakin University has highlighted that there are 25% more guns in Australia in 2025 than before the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, with over 4 million guns owned by civilians nationwide.

Arguments:

GCA has argued that the increase in the number of guns in Australia is ‘putting our community at increasing risk.’ According to the AMF, the absence of legal limits on the number of firearms one person can own ‘increas[es] the risk of unauthorised access to firearms and their potential use in harming…the greater community.’ As reported in a study published by the American Public Health Association, there is a ‘robust correlation between higher levels of gun ownership and higher firearm homicide rates.’ 

Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute’s Research Director, has stated that ‘record numbers of guns’ can ‘easily…fall into the hands of criminals’ through theft and illicit circulation, ‘putting Australians in danger’. The Australia Institute has reported that the ‘theft of legal firearms is the largest contemporary source of illegal firearms.’ According to the Australia Institute, at least 3,590 firearms have been stolen in VIC since 2017. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has further noted that there were ‘200,000 firearms…in the domestic illicit market’ in 2023. The Australia Institute has said that ‘reducing the number of firearms available… could mean fewer guns coming into the hands of criminals.’ 

Some gun lobbyists have said they need multiple guns for varied reasons, including sport shooting, historical interest, and because they ‘enjoy customising’ them. However, according to Stephen Bendle, convenor of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, the growth of firearm stockpiles ‘is a result of the commercial interests of an industry and the recreational pursuit of a few’ rather than fulfilling the ‘genuine reason’ requirement. The Australia Institute further argued that ‘it is not clear why the average gun owner…would want to own twice as many firearms as the average gun owner in 1997.’ 

The Australian Gun Safety Alliance has argued that there is ‘overwhelming evidence that Australians want stronger gun laws.’ According to the Australia Institute, approximately 77% of Australians support limits on the number of firearms a person can own, and 64% of Australians believe that gun laws must be strengthened. As reported by the ABC, the National Cabinet has ‘unanimously agreed’ to strengthen gun laws after the Bondi terror attack, and will consider ‘limiting the number of guns a single person can own’ in line with public expectations.

Advice/Solution Identification:

AMF has called for ‘a total of five firearms [to] be the absolute maximum that a person is able to hold to ensure public safety.’ GCA and the Australia Institute have agreed that there should be a restriction on the number of firearms a civilian should be entitled to own. AMF has said that this is a step to ‘ensure public safety’, and GCA has said this could protect the community from ‘increasing risk.’ The Australia Institute has further affirmed that this could help prevent the illicit circulation of firearms ‘into the hands of criminals.’

Precedent:

There is domestic precedent for limiting the number of firearms a civilian can own. In WA, a civilian is limited to owning 5 firearms under a hunting licence or 10 firearms under a competition licence.

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Public Support: 

1. Alannah and Madeline Foundation

Broad Support (have all advocated for restrictions to the number of firearms a civilian owns, but did not specify a number)

1. Gun Control Australia

2. The Australia Institute 

3. Australian Gun Safety Alliance

News Coverage:

• ABC News - “The Bondi shooter only had a basic gun licence. How could he buy multiple high-powered rifles?” This article provided a critical analysis of Australia’s current gun laws that allowed the Bondi shooter to buy an unlimited supply of rifles and shotguns. By: Julian Fell | Tuesday 16 December 2025 - Read the article here. 

• The Guardian - “Australia had the ‘gold standard’ on gun control. The Bondi beach terror attack may force it to confront its surging number of weapons.” Following the Bondi terror attack, experts have called for reform to Australia’s gun laws to limit the current flow of 2,000 lawful weapons entering the community every week. By: Sarah Martin | Monday 15 December 2025 - Read the article here. 

• ABC News - “National cabinet agrees unanimously to strengthen Australia's strict gun laws in wake of Bondi terror attack.” Following the Bondi terror attack, the Federal Government and states have committed to reviewing Australia’s gun laws and have reaffirmed their commitments to fulfilling all NFA requirements. By: Maani Truu and Clare Armstrong | Monday 15 December 2025 - Read the article here. 

• The Conversation - “What’s behind the rise in gun ownership in Australia?” Following the 2025 VIC shooting where two policemen were killed, experts have weighed in on what is motivating the increase in gun ownership in Australia. By: Samara McPhedran | Wednesday 27 August 2025 - Read the article here. 

• The Guardian - “‘I could get a gun within an hour of leaving jail’: how Australia’s licensed firearms end up in criminal’s hands.” Data revealed that the circulation of stolen and illicit guns is an increasingly serious problem in Australia. By: Sarah Martin and Ariel Bogle | Wednesday 3 September 2025 - Read the article here. 

• ABC News - “More than two dozen WA residents own more than 100 firearms each – all approved by police.” Prior to the 2024 firearm reforms in WA, the government released data on how many guns were owned by each individual licence in the interest of community safety. By: Alicia Bridges | Friday 12 August 2022 - Read the article here.

Where to go to learn more: 

1. Gun control in Australia - This report by the Australia Institute, commissioned by the Australian Gun Safety Alliance and Gun Control Australia, provided an in-depth breakdown of firearms data and laws by state jurisdiction. Read the report here.

2. Firearm theft in Australia: Two decades of stolen guns - This report by the Australia Institute explored why firearm theft is increasingly common. Read the report here.

3. Australian gun control: 29 years after Port Arthur - This report by the Australia Institute explained how each state is lagging behind their NFA requirements, before comparing Australia’s firearm statistics to other OECD countries. Read the report here. 

4. Gun control in context: Learning from the Australian gun control experience - This book explored all angles of the gun control debate worldwide, focusing on the Australian example as a precedent for US policy-makers. Read the book here. 

5. Gun control laws in the USA: A comparative global review - This academic article provided a comparative analysis of OECD countries and their respective gun laws, before exploring the impact of these laws on gun violence and mass shootings. Read the article here. 

6. Firearms Act 1996 (VIC) - Read the full Act here.

Human Perspective: 

Trigger warning: Gun violence

Gary, a 57-year-old male, has a collection of 68 firearms stored at his home in metropolitan VIC, which he regularly uses for sport shooting at his local shooters’ association. However, Gary failed to securely lock up all 68 of his guns and, as a result, 4 of his prized rifles were stolen without his knowledge. After selling 2 of these stolen rifles on the black market, the thief used the other 2 guns when confronting his ex-girlfriend in a busy metropolitan carpark. While he originally intended to use the guns for intimidation purposes, he became enraged and shot his ex-girlfriend in the leg. As it was midday, the carpark was full and the unexpected gunshots caused widespread panic among the shoppers. The community was immensely shaken by this act of gun violence, an issue which hasn’t affected their neighbourhood in decades. The victim now suffers from ongoing mobility issues and severe PTSD. She has regular nightmares of the shooting and no longer feels safe going about her day-to-day life. Gary feels immense guilt for failing to store his firearms safely and for not noticing the absence of 4 of his firearms, and has realised that he does not need to own multiple firearms to recreationally shoot. He has since surrendered 60 of his firearms to the VIC police as part of their ongoing firearms amnesty scheme.

To protect the anonymity of those involved, this is a fictionalised account drawn from an amalgamation of real-life stories, experiences and testimonials gathered during the research process for this brief. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.

Conflict of interest/acknowledgment statement: 

N/A

Support 

If your organisation would like to add your support to this paper or suggest amendments, please email Info@foreaustralia.com. 

Reference list: 

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