Western Australia (WA) is looking to overhaul its gun laws from the ground up to ensure fewer illegal guns and to “improve community safety.” In WA, similar to the rest of Australia, guns are not permitted for self defence. However, they are allowed under limited circumstances, such as for recreational shooting or hunting animals on eligible private properties. According to WA Police, over the last 13 years the number of licensed holders remained steady at around 89,000—4.3 percent of the state’s adult population. Over the same period, the number of licensed guns increased by 60 percent to nearly 350,000, with one holder owning four firearms on average. WA Police did not reveal what percentage of these were paintball guns, which also require a firearms licence. Premier Mark McGowan said the government would be consulting with stakeholders during the process. “Western Australia’s Firearms Act is now nearly five decades old. The …