Relax gun laws to let people protect themselves, Senator says

Senator David Leyonhjelm says the outcome of the deadly siege could have been different iuf the hostages were able to arm themselves.

"They had nothing to fight back with," he said.

"Those hostages were by law unable to have anything for their self defence."

Mr Howard was the architect of Australia's tight gun laws in 1996 after the Port Arthur massacre, an action which caused Senator Leyonhjelm to quit the Liberal Party in disgust. 

"I think the suggestion more guns should be made available in self defence is misguided and wrong," Mr Howard said in response.

"As the author of those gun laws, I have the strongest possible view they have delivered a safer society."

The libertarian senator is in favour of American gun laws where it's legal to carry weapons.

In the United States there are more than 10 times the number of gun-related deaths.

For every 100 people in the US, there are 89 guns. In Australia there are 15 per 100 people.

"I just don't buy the argument more guns make the country safe," Opposition leader Bill Shorten said.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Mr Howard's gun reforms make them among the best in the world, and under no circumstances will his government wind them back.