How strict are gun laws in Australia?
Restrictive
Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Australia is one of 87 countries classified “Restrictive” for civilian gun ownership — 43% of the 202 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)
Source
- Last checked
- 17 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Read directly from the source’s own table, without interpretation.
Nearby countries
- Timor-Leste
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Papua New Guinea
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Solomon Islands
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Indonesia
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- Palau
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Vanuatu
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
Other laws in Australia
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished
- School Corporal Punishment
- Varies by region
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
- Jury Trials
- Jury trials used
Every law in Australia → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.