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Sarah Simpkins
Guns set to be destroyed during the 1996-97 gun buyback. Photo: The Sydney Morning Herald.

Australia hit a milestone of sorts two years ago — the number of registered firearms across the country ticked over 3.5 million.

It was notable for exceeding the 3.2 million licensed guns in circulation before the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, after which 650,000 guns were thrown into furnaces under the national firearms buyback scheme.