Children as young as 11 are applying for and getting gun licenses in Queensland.

Independent MP Bob Katter says he thinks children as young as 11 years old, and possibly younger, should be able to legally use a firearm in order to protect themselves and their families.

Mr Katter says that from his experience being around firearms you treat them normally and are not fascinated by them like young children who do not see them. He says if you have firearms in the family you should have the right to use it, comparing a firearm to a pair of pliers or a screwdriver that may be used in self-defence.

Mr Katter also says that in places where firearms are banned there are higher rates of homicide.

Those against wider gun use state that "Teaching a child to shoot is teaching a child to kill, because that is exactly what the great majority of guns are designed to do." (Read more)

www.guncontrol.org.au - a local group in favour of gun control - points out that the availability of guns leads to other problems including the abuse of gun laws by owners, and theft.

"One quarter of gun owners breached the gun laws. In Victoria 332 guns were stolen – this is an increase of about one third on the average of the two previous years."