Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a more complicated truth.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a single attacker armed with powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many residents.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This translates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and 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 primarily held by those in the countryside.

Guns are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in population centres.

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

What Are Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to apply for 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 permitted justifications include sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening 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 met with opposition from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of responsible owners.

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

A Painful Reminder

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

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

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

As one advocate noted, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a loss of life to get people to wake up and pay heed."