FEARS that gun-fuelled bikie wars are spreading across Australia continue to grow as authorities in three states try to grapple with the spiralling fire arm problem.

Yesterday NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione warned that a US-style gun culture was heading to Australia. He said in NSW said the shootings between rival bikie and other criminal gangs were generally over drugs, turf or organised crime and previously were resolved with a punch-up. "Well, those days appear to have gone," Mr Scipione said. More likely, he believes Australia's biggest city is shifting towards American gun culture, where people settle disputes with firearms. Nine men have suffered gunshot wounds during 19 shootings in Sydney in April with a total of 52 shootings occurring in Sydney in 2012. "Perhaps we're moving down the American path where these sorts of disputes are resolved on the end of a handgun," Ms Scipione said.