Australia was widely regarded as a world leader in firearm regulation – Bondi has exposed a much murkier truth.

On a spring day in 1996, a solitary shooter wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories 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 nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

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

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Weapons are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some areas 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.

Rapid-fire weapons were prohibited, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "home security" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

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

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the great bulk 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 urgent task.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must be updated with changing times.

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

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

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it needs such a devastating event to get people to wake up and take notice."