Victim of gun violence urges law reforms

A woman whose father was shot dead by her mentally ill sister says Australia's gun laws need strengthening, two decades on from the Port Arthur massacre.

Michelle Fernando, whose schizophrenic sister was approved as a probationary member of a pistol club a month before she killed her dad, says legal loopholes and policy regressions are putting the community at risk.

She says section 6B of the Firearms Act, that allows the use of a firearm at an approved shooting range without a licence or permit, gave her sister access to a gun and lessons in using it after she indicated a "no" on a form asking if she had any mental illness.

Ms Fernando has since tirelessly campaigned to see the clause scrapped, to no avail.

"When there are people getting access to guns, there is always going to be the risk of gun violence and tragedy," she said at a press conference with Greens politicians at NSW Parliament on Wednesday.

"Any step that can be taken to reduce that possibility is a step that I think we should take."

Lobby group Gun Control Australia estimates there are about 3.2 million guns owned by private citizens in Australia and says policies have been weakened in numerous states and territories.

"I thought that we lived in a society where we wouldn't permit politicians to make decisions like that, but I think politicians are just doing it anyway," Ms Fernando said.

Greens NSW leader David Shoebridge urged the government to use the anniversary of the 1996 mass shooting, during which 35 people died, to tighten any gun laws that have since been "watered down".

He said it was remarkable the loophole affecting Ms Fernando and her family remained open, and accused the government of being too weak to stand up to gun lobbies.

"It's time politicians put the interests of the broader community at the forefront of their decision making," Mr Shoebridge said.

Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia national president Geoff Jones says the Greens' calls for a blanket ban on semi-automatic guns "shows how out of touch they are with most Australians who accept sports shooting as a legitimate recreation".

"To own a handgun in Australia, shooters must pass rigorous police checks, safety courses and probationary periods, no matter which state they live," Mr Jones said in a statement.

"Given Australia's history of militaria and our recent commemoration of Anzac Day, to ban self-loading hand guns would seriously hinder historic arms research and offer no deterrence to criminals who will obtain their illegal wares through other means."