Australia had long been viewed as a international standard-bearer in weapons legislation – Bondi has laid bare a more complicated reality.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a single attacker wielding semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many residents.

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

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the greatest density of weapons.

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

Weapons are common in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

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

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have access to a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Certain types of firearms were outlawed, and background checks alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have stopped 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 law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

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

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of guns in the wrong hands – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and take notice."