Australia Sees Rising Gun Ownership Amid Sovereign Citizen Challenges

The United States faces a persistent and tragic epidemic of gun violence, with more firearms than residents and over 47,000 gun-related deaths in 2023 alone, leading to widespread calls for stricter gun control measures. Despite these calls, states like Minnesota already have some of the country's strictest gun laws, yet shootings still occur, highlighting constitutional limitations on further restrictions under the Second Amendment. Advocates for gun reform often point to Australia’s stringent gun policies as a successful model, but experts note that applying similar measures in the U.S. is complicated by constitutional protections and the vast number of guns already in private hands. Meanwhile, in Australia, authorities are contending with challenges to gun control enforcement, including the rise of the sovereign citizen movement, which has led to firearm license cancellations and legal disputes, as seen in the case of a Victorian gunman whose license was revoked prior to committing violence. This complex landscape underscores the difficulty of balancing public safety with legal rights amid differing national contexts and political realities.