Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi attack has laid bare a more complicated situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a lone gunman using powerful firearms killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by people in regional areas.

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 over four firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Weapons legislation in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Generally, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, young people in some areas 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 voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

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

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

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that regulations must be updated with changing times.

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

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

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it requires such a tragedy to prompt action and pay heed."