Australia was widely regarded as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has laid bare a much murkier reality.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a single attacker using rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has revived the ghosts of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

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

The data also dispels the common view that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Guns are common in urban centres, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing several firearms.

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

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

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

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

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a requirement 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 argue that limiting gun numbers would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must evolve with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the legacy of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it takes such a loss of life to prompt action and listen."