The nation of Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has exposed a more complicated situation.

On a spring day in 1996, a solitary shooter using semi-automatic rifles took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a different era for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has revived the ghosts of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is roughly two times 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 the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Guns are widespread in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the average licence holder possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, target or sport shooting, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

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

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were banned, and security screenings alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "personal protection" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

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 proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have prevented 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 responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must be updated with new threats.

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the legacy of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it requires such a devastating event to focus attention and take notice."