The restrictions on gun ownership are in response to the "Port Arthur Massacre" in Tasmania in 1996 where 35 people were killed. It was the biggest mass shooting in world history at the time.

The Howard Government had a "gun buy back" program at the time and severe restrictions were placed on firearm ownership. It does not seem to have worked, there are shootings in Sydney and Melbourne on a daily basis.

It was a knee-jerk reaction, and did not make Australia "safer". Anybody who thinks that "gun laws", are to protect citizens is seriously deluded.

In my state Queensland before 1996 it was very easy to ( legally ) buy all sort of weapons.