Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has exposed a much murkier reality.

On a spring day in 1996, a single attacker armed with semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can appear as a different era for many citizens.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Historic Peak

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 the late 1990s.

This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also contradicts the widespread belief that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

Guns are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in major cities.

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

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Weapons legislation in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have access to 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 large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "self-defence" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

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

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

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

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that gun laws must evolve with new threats.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and protect public safety.

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

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it needs such a devastating event to focus attention and pay heed."