The dire police admission which lays Qld’s black market gun crisis bare

Queensland’s gun black market is unregulated, unpredictable and granting weapons to the state’s shadiest characters. That’s why this latest admission is worrying.

Queensland’s gun black market is impossible to control.

Police have revoked hundreds of gun licences in the last year for serious crimes and domestic violence but say they cannot estimate the number of firearms circulating in Queensland on the black market.

Queensland Police revoked 870 licences in 2024-25 and 1,273 in the previous year due to firearm holders being a respondent to a DV order, being charged with a disqualifying offence relating to weapons, drugs or violence or for concerns relating to mental health.

But a spokesman said the service was “unable to speculate” on the number of illegal firearms circulating in Queensland.

It comes as The Courier-Mail revealed 3017 guns were reported stolen in the past five years while more than 2000 remain missing.

“The presence of illegal firearms in the community poses a serious threat to public safety,” the QPS spokesman said.

“Crimes associated with these dangerous weapons include violent crimes, domestic and family violence, homicide and criminal gang activity.”

Police said illegal firearms remained a “top priority” and in January 2025 launched Operation Whiskey Firestorm in a bid to tackle firearm safety.

A gun landing in the wrong hands can have fatal consequences Picture: Savusia Konstantin

“This operation is in response to 2024 statistics which saw 1,055 firearm licenses revoked, and over 3,290 offences involving firearms, including serious offences such as attempted murder, assault, robbery and unlawful entry,” a QPS spokesman said.

“The QPS continues to conduct extensive audits, co-ordinate regional operations, and work with licensed firearm owners to ensure they meet safety and ownership rules and regulations, including lawful storage of firearms.”

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission estimates there are 200,000 illicit firearms circulating nationwide, made up of about 190,000 long arms and 10,000 handguns.

Gympie gun dealer Ron Owen said if anyone ever approached his shop with stolen items they were immediately thrown out and reported to police.

Nationally, a permanent gun amnesty began in 2021 which provides a protection from prosecution where a person with an unregistered firearm hands in a firearm or parts.

But Mr Owen said “grey market” guns - such as weapons handed down by family members - were being handed in as part of the amnesty and not black market firearms.

Gun associations claim that current regulations place a burden on the industry for law-abiding Australians rather than deterring criminal activity.

Ron Owen said “grey market” guns were being handed in. Photo: Paul Beutel

Shooting Industry Foundation Australia president James Walsh said legal firearm ownership was separate to the issue of the illicit market, and that the two must not be conflated.

Mr Walsh called for greater scrutiny of illegal imports and stricter penalties for criminals using illicit firearms, rather than imposing more restrictions on law-abiding owners.

“If governments and advocacy groups are genuinely concerned about increasing public safety, they should direct their resources to tackling illicit and illegal firearms. Law-abiding firearms owners and businesses are not the problem,” he said.

The Federal Government has approved the creation of a National Firearms Register following renewed calls after the Wieambilla murders of police constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold.

But he said no amount of regulation or legislation would stop criminals getting their hands on firearms.

“They’re not fussed about how much regulation has been put in,” he said.

“The government is spending close to $240m on a national firearms register … this is a $240m project designed to be able to see where firearms are registered, not ones criminals will be tied up in.”

The register is anticipated to be ready by 2028.