The nation of Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has revealed a more complicated situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter using semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can seem like a bygone age for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Weapons are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some areas can have use of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and background checks alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "home security" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to tighten gun laws.

A weapons collection initiative was unveiled, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that restricting ownership would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it requires such a devastating event to prompt action and take notice."