Gun control at home, gun profits abroad: Australia’s defence contradiction

Australia’s strict gun laws have reduced domestic gun violence, but the country still enables global harm through defense companies linked to weapons used in organized crime and terrorism overseas, he writes Jake Steisel.

ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, Port Arthur massacre It has forced Australia to confront gun violence head-on. Government announces comprehensive gun control within 12 days reforms: Ban semi-automatic weapons, introduce mandatory buybacks, and require licenses for firearm ownership.

Fast forward to December 14, 2025 and Terrorist attack on Bondi Beach It reminds Australia that while it has made great progress in reducing the risk of gun violence, the threat is far from over. parliament recently voted He favors comprehensive reforms to gun laws. But there is a blind spot in these reforms: Australian companies can still profit from supplying some of the world’s deadliest firearms; Weapons that have minimal restrictions in other countries and are used to commit terrorism and atrocities around the world.

In January 2023, NIOA GroupAn ammunition company based in Queensland acquired Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, famous US rifle manufacturer known for its .50 caliber rifles that it sells to the general public, including teenagers, in the US. Although the military has long used .50-caliber firearms, their introduction to the civilian market is credited to the development of the Barrett semi-automatic rifle.

Ronnie Barrett’s 1987 patent in the name his invention ‘anti-armor weapon’ and has capabilities such as extended range and accuracy of at least 1,000 yards (914 meters) and up to 2,000 yards (1.83 kilometers—more than twice the average effective range of an AR-15) and tremendous destructive power, such as the ability to destroy armored vehicles and aircraft. In short, Barrett rifles bring weapons of war to civilian markets.

History shows the consequences of this. recently report from Violence Policy Center It documents the links between Barrett rifles and international criminal activity from the company’s early days. For example, in the late 1980s, ‘Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda purchased 25 Barrett .50 caliber anti-armor sniper rifles’ And Irish Republican Army He used Barrett .50 caliber rifles to assassinate British troops and Irish police officers.

By 1999, the US government report Stressed that Barrett’s .50-caliber rifles were linked to criminal misconduct ‘It has been linked to terrorism, outlaw motorcycle gangs, international and domestic drug trafficking and violent crime.’.

Despite this report, Barrett .50 caliber rifles remain alarmingly accessible in the US as long as one is willing to pay between US$5,000-15,000 (AU$7,000-AU$21,000). virtually any A U.S. citizen over the age of 18 and not a convicted felon can walk into one of thousands of dealers and walk out with a Barrett .50-caliber rifle.

Fortunately, most U.S. dealers do not sell firearms to criminals. Actually, over 90% Almost no firearms dealers sell crime weapons. problem is that a small percentage of arms dealers willfully or recklessly ignore indicators of guilt in order to maximize profits at all costs; 5% of dealers sell more than 90% of crime weapons.

But even though manufacturers like Barrett have the ability to limit sales to high-risk dealers and require dealers to proactively stop questionable sales, to put by an ex National Rifle Association lawyer, gun lobbyist, and firearms trade association executive Robert RickerThey chose the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” approach. or as to put by a Glock manager, Glock (and other manufacturers) ‘You continue doing business with a gun dealer accused of violating firearms laws because ‘This is still America’ and ‘You’re still innocent until proven guilty’.

This tolerant attitude has fatal consequences. As detailed by Mexico case Seven gun manufacturers sued, including Barrett .50-caliber rifle ‘It has become one of the cartels’ weapons of choice’ and is often purchased in the United States and sold to Mexican cartels.

In one example, a Barrett .50-caliber rifle was used by a Mexican cartel in September 2016. Hit A helicopter belonging to the state attorney general’s office. Lately Violence Policy Center The report detailed a long list of cartel attacks and assassinations using .50-caliber rifles in Mexico. These weapons of war have also been used by gangs lately. Haiti but also to undertake law enforcement.

Despite this history, NIOA Group proudly acquired Barrett in 2023, along with NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa. sharing It was NIOA “We are inspired by Barrett’s story and amazed by what Ronnie, Chris and the family have built over four decades.” Robert Nioa has been closely involved in Barrett’s operations ever since. to contain be friends and present Donald Trump Jr. “hand-painted with a combat-plated American flag design, with a custom Barrett MRADELR.”

Australia must act. Stricter local gun laws are needed; but so is global responsibility. Government contracts should not reward companies that profit from gun violence abroad. NIOA receives hundreds of millions of dollars in Australian defense contracts, including $527.2 million prize in 2022 and funding for new facilities. These contracts It should not support companies whose products fuel terrorism and cartel violence around the world.

Australia has shown it can be a leader in arms control. It’s time to extend this leadership beyond its borders.

Jake Steisel is a Senior Staff Attorney. Global Action Against Gun ViolenceThe only organization that works with countries and people around the world to reduce global harm from guns by using litigation and human rights strategies to reform dangerous gun industry practices.

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