Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – Bondi has revealed a far more complex situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a single attacker using semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which led to some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Unprecedented Level

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

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 the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also contradicts the common view that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Weapons are common in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in population centres.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing more than four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some areas can have supervision 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Certain types of firearms were banned, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "personal protection" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Regulatory Tightening

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to strengthen gun laws.

A weapons collection initiative was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of licensed individuals.

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

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must keep pace with new threats.

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

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the legacy of guns in the wrong hands – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a loss of life to focus attention and pay heed."