Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has revealed a far more complex truth.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter using powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from about 20 years ago.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Firearms are widespread in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

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

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

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

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must be updated with changing times.

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

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

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it needs such a loss of life to get people to wake up and pay heed."