LICENSED gun owners should be allowed to wear concealed weapons in the street to protect themselves against criminals and terrorists, according a Gold Coast-based gun lobby group.

Firearms Owners United has been urging supporters to back a Change.org petition which calls for Australians with gun licences to be allowed to have “concealed carry for self defence”.

Debate about relaxing tough gun laws has surfaced after the Gold Coast Bulletin in a weekend report revealed there were almost 64,000 registered firearms in the city.

The lobbying by gun groups occurs as planning begins for 20th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre with services being organised on April 28 in Hobart to recognise the loss of 35 lives in the siege staged by lone gunman Martin Bryant.

FOU spokesman Britney Spaulding, 25, from Beenleigh, has met with Burleigh MP Michael Hart sparking a war of words between gun owners and the State pollie who opposes an application for a gun dealership in his electorate.

Ms Spaulding told the Gold Coast Bulletin: “He doesn’t have a clue. He doesn’t like guns. He confuses illegal and legitimate firearms.

“I do believe if you are properly licensed you should have the opportunity to carry an item for the purpose of self protection, whether it’s a gun or pepper spray. Anything that gives you a chance, you need it.

“It’s a scary world these days, you never know what is going to happen. Provided right training and licensing is done, we believe that gun owners should have the ability to defend themselves, even with gun.

“The Lindt Café — if someone had a concealed firearm it would have ended before it started. They would have had the proper training and dealt with that situation.”

As a 19-year-old on the Coast, Ms Spaulding recalled being attacked in a park and would have been “overpowered and defenceless” if others had not been there to offer support.

About 13,700 people have “liked” the FOU’s Facebook page which has carried a link to the petition Allow Australians Concealed carry for self defence”.

The petition which has 2851 supporters backs both concealed carry and “self defence with firearms “ and tells petitioners “we now live in a world where relying on police is not just enough anymore”.

Queensland-based gun owner Ryan Kropp, who lists himself as CEO of Fishing and Hunting Australia, in a blog acknowledged his petition has divided Australians but explains how being armed with a concealed weapon could prevent a tragedy.

“Police are deemed fit and safe to carry so why can’t citizens who are responsible and undergo the right checks also have that right? Because in the end we are only looking out for innocent lives,” he wrote.

Police and emergency service workers oppose any move to relax laws to allow citizens to carry guns.

Mr Hart, who had faced abuse on social media after taking a stand on a gun shop, said he would never support the petition.

“I have no issue with legal owners of firearms. But I will never support the right of people to carry concealed firearms,” Mr Hart said.

“There’s 67,000 people on the Gold Coast with a firearm. A lot would try to get a concealed licence. Unless you’re a policeman or a security guard there’s no need to carry a gun, especially a concealed one.

“We already have road rage. Imagine if someone was carrying a gun and there was a confrontation with someone in road rage.”