Don Weatherburn, the chief of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics, said the pattern of firearms had made a “horrendous change” for the worse with handguns now responsible for between 50 and 60 per cent of annual gun deaths.

“Handguns are a real worry. They have become saleable commodities on the black market,” Dr Weatherburn said. “There may be fewer gun homicides but handguns make up a larger proportion of those homicides than they used to.

Ms [Samara McPhedran] said policies on gun control should be based on evidence and that homicide rates overall had remained relatively static since the Port Arthur massacre despite the gun buyback, while suicide rates have actually gone up.

DESPITE the hundreds of thousands of semi-automatic rifles and shotguns surrendered since John Howard announced the gun buyback after the Port Arthur massacre 10 years ago this month, the public remains well armed with more than 2.5million firearms registered across the country.

There are now more than 750,000 individual gun licence-holders and each has an average of three weapons.

The greater concern, however, is for the unknown number of unregistered handguns in the community.

Don Weatherburn, the chief of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics, said the pattern of firearms had made a “horrendous change” for the worse with handguns now responsible for between 50 and 60 per cent of annual gun deaths.

“Handguns are a real worry. They have become saleable commodities on the black market,” Dr Weatherburn said. “There may be fewer gun homicides but handguns make up a larger proportion of those homicides than they used to.

“Handguns are not being used as long arms were in the context of dreadful domestic homicides or by deranged murderers killing lots of people. They are being used in the context of turf wars between rival gangs and by organised criminals.”

He said firearm theft was now a nationwide problem with handguns stolen in one state turning up in another.

Dr Weatherburn said that while many of the handguns were illegally imported, there was a disturbing trend of holding up security vehicles not to get the money but to get the guards’ handguns.

Samara McPhedran, 28, who founded the International Coalition for Women in Shooting and Hunting to help dispel myths surrounding women and guns, said one of the tragedies of the emphasis on gun control had been the focus away from the cause of broader social problems such as suicide and domestic violence.

“It is very easy to blame firearms for violence, but very hard to engage in constructive action that can address the causes of violence,” she said.

Ms McPhedran said policies on gun control should be based on evidence and that homicide rates overall had remained relatively static since the Port Arthur massacre despite the gun buyback, while suicide rates have actually gone up.

“Appalling events like Port Arthur make headlines around the world, but there are victims of violence every day that go unrecognised,” she said.

Also published in The Sunday Mail as Australia stays well armed.