Australia was widely regarded as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a far more complex truth.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a single attacker wielding rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many residents.

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 Historic Peak

A analysis revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (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 widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Weapons are common in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules across states and territories.

Typically, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states 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.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to strengthen gun laws.

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a priority.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

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

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it needs such a devastating event to prompt action and listen."