Australia had long been viewed as a international standard-bearer in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has exposed a more complicated truth.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a lone gunman using rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which led to some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a different era for many residents.

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

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from two decades prior.

This means approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by NSW and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are primarily held by people in regional areas.

Firearms are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

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

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application 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 met with opposition from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Catalyst for Change

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must be updated with technological advances.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through poor storage – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate stated, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a loss of life to focus attention and listen."