Australia was widely regarded as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a more complicated reality.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a lone gunman wielding semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many citizens.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the common view that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Firearms are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and security screenings alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "personal protection" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to bolster gun laws.

A national gun buyback scheme was proposed, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These swift actions have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that limiting gun numbers would not have prevented an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than changing laws for the vast majority of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must be updated with new threats.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "address deficiencies" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate stated, "It is regrettable that it takes such a tragedy to focus attention and take notice."