ABSTRACT
Global debates about gun control centre on the American experience of gun violence and the limited legislative action that has resulted. During these debates, Australia's experience with gun control is often cited as the exemplar government response to gun violence – the mass shooting in Port Arthur in April 1996, which killed 35 people, prompted a nationwide reaction from the conservative federal government to increase firearms regulation and control. The introduction of this book grounds the following chapters in the current state of how we talk about gun control around the world, challenging readers to approach a new kind of conversation about guns by checking assumptions and stereotypes about gun control at the door – no matter what side of the debate they subscribe to. I introduce the book and project by embedding my own journey as a left-leaning, pro-gun-control criminologist wading into the unfamiliar territory of gun dealers and gun owners across Australia.
