Australia was widely regarded as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a more complicated reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a lone gunman armed with rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can appear as a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Port Arthur massacre.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A recent report 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 equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, 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 mostly possessed by rural residents.

Guns are prevalent in urban centres, with a significant portion located in urban hubs.

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

Examining Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

Generally, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some areas can have supervision of a firearm from as young as pre-teen age.

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

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

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

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

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

A national gun buyback scheme was unveiled, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during background check processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent addressing root causes rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of law-abiding citizens.

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

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must evolve with technological advances.

They argue that reform 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 poor storage – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a loss of life to prompt action and pay heed."