Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in gun control – Bondi has revealed a much murkier situation.

On a spring day in April 1996, a solitary shooter armed with semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a different era for many Australians.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also dispels the popular notion that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

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

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Weapons legislation in Australia are varied across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Regulatory Tightening

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was unveiled, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Complicated Debate

These swift actions have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that imposing caps would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a key project.

A Painful Reminder

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must evolve with technological advances.

They argue that reform is needed to "remain effective" and safeguard communities.

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

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it takes such a devastating event to focus attention and take notice."