Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm is happy to tell Americans he is pro-guns but not his home state

FEDERAL senator David Leyonhjelm has been busy telling Americans that Australians are a nation of victims because of our anti-gun laws — but he doesn’t want to talk about it at home.

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FEDERAL senator David Leyonhjelm has been busy telling Americans that Australians are a nation of victims because of our anti-gun laws — but he doesn’t want to talk about it at home.

The Liberal Democrats senator and Drummoyne resident appeared in a National Rifle Association of America video, warning the US not to follow Australia’s example by introducing a gun buyback scheme.

When asked about his pro-gun stance by theInner West Courier this week, Mr Leyonhjelm said he did not want to talk about guns.

Senator David Leyonhjelm didn’t want to talk about guns.

Senator Leyonhjelm, elected in 2013, said people who did not understand libertarians would not understand his position.

“I am a libertarian. I believe in small government and less regulation,” he said.

“I don’t believe in government having all the guns and its citizens having no guns.”

The interview followed the arrest of a man in Marrickville last week after he was allegedly toting a Thompson brand fully automatic sub-machine gun, a clip and 15 shotgun shells.

Marc Avidov, 41, was charged with several firearms offences, including possessing an unregistered firearm and ammunition without a licence.

The Thompson-brand fully automatic sub-machine gun confiscated by police in Marrickville last week.

Australia’s strict gun laws had been discussed during the US presidential race, where advocates of restrictions have pointed out there had been no gun massacres in Australia since 1996.

That year, the former prime minister John Howard introduced a gun buyback scheme following the Port Arthur massacre which saw 35 people shot dead by killer Martin Bryant.

In the video, Senator Leyonhjelm said the Howard scheme had made “no difference to firearms violence, gun violence overall”.

Serene Port Arthur, the scene of Australia's worst gun massacre.

“You cannot defend yourself. Criminals still have guns. There’s no shortage of guns — there’s a very vigorous black market for guns so it’s (gun buyback) not made the slightest bit of difference, if you want a gun you can get one.”

Mr Leyonhjelm said he was in awe of the National Rifle Association and its success in holding back the tide.

His calls for more Australians to carry guns have been rejected by major parties, but he negotiated for the government to lift a ban on the importation of the Adler lever-action shotgun next year.