Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has exposed a far more complex reality.

On a weekend day in 1996, a solitary shooter using rapid-fire weapons killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can appear as a different era for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership 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 about 20 years ago.

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

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

The data also dispels the common view that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Weapons are common in urban centres, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the average licence holder possessing more than four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

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

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include recreational hunting or pest control, target or sport shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some states 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 massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "home security" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that limiting gun numbers would not have prevented an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than changing laws for the vast majority of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

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

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it needs such a devastating event to focus attention and listen."