With 14,757 firearms in the city, Dubbo can lay claim to being the gun capital of regional NSW, with the number of gun licences also increasing more than 26 per cent since 2010.

According to NSW Police, there were 2193 gun licences in Dubbo in 2010, but in the five years since it has grown by 573 to 2766, an increase of 26.1 per cent.

Across NSW, gun ownership has surged by 10 per cent, with one firearm now registered for every nine residents.

This figure is dwarfed when compared to Dubbo, which would have closer to one firearm registered for every three residents.

Other regional cities, such as Orange (29.3 per cent), Bathurst (21.6 per cent) and Tamworth (16.6 per cent), have experienced similar increases in gun licences since 2010.

Dubbo Pistol Club publicity officer Stephen Holmes, who started pistol shooting in 1988, said despite some negative perceptions about guns or the sport, their club was very safe.

“It is a growing sport and despite the fact we are using a firearm it is a very safe sport,” he said.

“If you look at the injuries that people get from playing rugby league or union like broken arms and other bones, we don’t have any of that.

“Yes, obviously you are using firearms, but at our club you have to spend more than 12 months on probation with supervision, and everyone is very safe at all times in our club.” 

Dubbo MP Troy Grant said there had been an increase in applications for legal firearms ownership for a range of purposes including target shooting, recreational hunting, vermin control and primary production.

“The real concern is illegal firearms which, in the hands of brazen and hardened criminals, are a clear and present danger to our community and police continue to target this illegal activity,” the Police Minister said.

Following Dubbo, Tamworth, with 14,542, and Bathurst with 14,253, have the most guns of any other community in regional NSW.