American pop culture blamed for rise in NSW gun licences

Gun licences in NSW have reportedly increased more than 37,000 in the past five years - and the state's police have blamed American pop culture.

The state now has 215,462 licenced gun users, up from 177,675 five years ago, News Corp has reported.

Firearms Squad commander Detective Superintendent Mick Plotecki said the increase could be blamed in part on the influence of American culture, including that nation's fervent belief in the right to bear arms.

However, Det Supt Plotecki also pointed the finger at the presence of guns in movies, TV and video games.

"Generally speaking however Australians don’t have a strong gun culture and recent strong reaction against relaxing our gun ownership laws is indicative of this - Australia don’t want lax gun laws," he said.

"But there is an element in the community who are swayed by the US culture that guns are a right rather than a privilege."

However, Det Supt Plotecki said the increase in licences had not come with a corresponding increase in firearm crime.

"If you are a legitimate gun licence holder you are probably doing everything right," he said.

Country areas Tamworth (3259) and Bathurst (3075) had the most licence holders in the state.