Australia had long been viewed as a international standard-bearer in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has revealed a much murkier reality.

On a spring day in 1996, a lone gunman using semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which ushered in some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can feel like a different era for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Firearms are common in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in urban hubs.

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

Examining Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas 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.

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

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting 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 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 restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – 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 horrific reminder that regulations must evolve with new threats.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "address deficiencies" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and listen."