Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in weapons legislation – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a more complicated situation.

On a spring day in April 1996, a solitary shooter armed with semi-automatic rifles murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the most stringent firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms 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 Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (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 popular notion that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Firearms are common in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and collecting.

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

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 prohibited, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "home security" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Firearm Policy Changes

In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to bolster 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 have registered.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening 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 proposed changes have met with opposition 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 improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of responsible owners.

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

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must evolve with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it needs such a loss of life to get people to wake up and pay heed."