Public addled over shotgun imports

WHY THE FUSS OVER A SHOTGUN?

* In 2015, the Abbott government paused the importation of the Adler A110 shotgun - and other rapid-fire shotguns - in the wake of Sydney's 2014 Lindt cafe siege renewing public concern about gun violence.

* The Adler has proven popular because it's capable of shooting eight shots in eight seconds using a lever-action mechanism and is relatively cheap to buy. Thousands of orders have been placed with gun importers.

* The shotgun is listed in Category A, the lowest of gun restriction categories, and therefore available to the nation's 700,000-plus licensed shooters.

* A 12-month sunset clause of the import ban ,which was to expire in August 2016, was extended because the states could not agree on a reclassification of the weapon. The deal could come as early as Friday, but there is no guarantee police ministers will agree.

* Sporting shooters argue there is no evidence of lever-action shotguns - which have been in use for more than a century - being used in crime in Australia and they pose no risk to public safety.

* Farmers say the shotguns are useful to control feral animals, but admit there are other eradication methods which don't require weapons.

* Gun control advocates say the shotgun should either be put in the toughest categories C or D or have its importation banned, as anything less would be watering down the Howard government controls brought in after the Port Arthur massacre.

* Labor says it is yet to see any compelling reason for the import ban to be lifted.

* Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says any decision on the future of the ban would be held off until the police ministers reach a consensus on the category.