Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a far more complex truth.

On a spring day in 1996, a solitary shooter armed with powerful firearms killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession 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 translates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and 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 people in regional areas.

Firearms are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the average licence holder possessing more than 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.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some areas can have access to 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were banned, and security screenings alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving 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 Nuanced Discussion

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

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

They argue that modernisation 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 guns in the wrong hands – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it takes such a devastating event to prompt action and listen."