The nation of Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a more complicated reality.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a lone gunman wielding rapid-fire weapons murdered 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the toughest gun laws in the world, can seem like a different era for many Australians.

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

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

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

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by 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 contradicts the widespread belief that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Firearms are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a patchwork 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 safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some states 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 outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

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

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Addressing "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting 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 reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

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

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that gun laws must keep pace with new threats.

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

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

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